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is a high performance athlete in his spare time. A high performance athlete isn’t simply someone who displays athletic prowess, but instead is defined as “an individual who performs at the highest levels in their sport in their country.” Mike can lay claim to the distinction because he is one of Canada’s top performers in rifle shooting. At the Nationals in 2001, he qualified for the senior team in both the Free Rifle and Air Rifle disciplines. Mike is quick to point out that the senior team doesn’t refer to old folks, but rather the primary team representing Canada at international competitions. Mike maintains that the key to a successful result in a rifle shooting tournament is being calm and focused. It’s a skill that he translates into other areas of his life, including his day job. “I think that being focused on one thing is a practiced skill,” says Mike. “If you are focusing on one thing, putting all your being into it, then you can't be anything other than calm, as you are not thinking of anything other than the task at hand.” Mike didn’t really begin target competitive shooting until the early ‘90s when he checked out the IBM Rifle/Pistol Club, and was instantly hooked. At the time, he shot Sporting Rifle, which is a Canadian-only discipline. He was getting reasonably good at it when the official target was changed to make the target rings larger and, according to Mike, much too easy. Looking for more of a challenge, Mike moved to the much more difficult international/Olympic rifle discipline. He has been competing in Match Rifle (prone only) since 1997 and Free Rifle (3 position) since 1999. Late in 2000, Mike started shooting Air Rifle as training for the standing stage of the Free Rifle competition. A year later, at the Nationals, he qualified for the senior team in both Free Rifle and Air Rifle. Being recognized as one of Canada’s high performance athletes is a prestigious distinction, but for most amateur athletes it is a tough road to travel. The toughest part for Mike is finding the time to train. “With a demanding full-time job, a wife, three kids and a computer gaming addiction, it is sometimes difficult to put aside the time to exercise and train,” says Mike. Not to mention the fact that Mike will be using all his vacation time most years just to attend competitions.
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