Gary Reed – Interview

Gary Reed

Since making the 800-metre final in the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, Gary Reed has proven himself as one of the world’s best half-milers. His inspiring performance at the 2007 World Championships, in which he led nearly the entire race, won him a silver medal. He finished fourth in the Beijing Olympic Games, narrowly missing the podium. The 27-year-old Kamloops native holds the Canadian record at 1:43.68, a mark he set in Monaco last year.

How is your training and racing schedule different this year from last year?

I will start racing a few weeks earlier this year. I hope to improve my speed as well.

Who were your track idols growing up and why?

I was a big Wilson Kipketer fan growing up. He was so dominant and so smooth; it was unreal to watch as a kid.

As a fan, who are your favourite track and field athletes to watch right now?

I like watching the young athletes break through. Any athlete that believes in themselves is a treat to watch.

In the major professional sports, salaries are well known, but in track and field it’s not so clear. Can you give us a sense of how much you or other athletes make?

I think it’s not so clear because from event to event it’s very different. A thrower will not typically earn as much as a 100-metre runner, and earnings are largely performance-based and fluctuate largely from year to year.

How did you celebrate after the Olympics were over?

I spent some time with my family and my girlfriend’s family in Kamloops. I also had a nice time in Vegas and Hawaii later in the month.