FEATURE F The Power of More: How Small Steps Can Help You Achieve Big Goals by Marnie McBean Three-time Olympic rowing champ Marnie McBean’s insights RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL have a silver lining, despite her three gold medals and bronze swag. If you’re looking for an instant life coach, her calcu- WITH OUR PRO AWNINGS, SHUTTERS & RAILINGS lated (and proven) concepts of “How Small Steps Can Help You Achieve Big Goals” are a foolproof formula. Her blueprint is applicable to everyone — regardless of your ambitions, career or A dancer lights the Olympic flame with a athleticism. In fact, the mentorship offered parabolic mirror in Olympia, Greece in April. in “The Power of More” is designed for The flame will be transported by torch relay 11 passion projects, verbalizing goals and even 00 to the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. YYEE the simplicity of starting necessary conver- WA AAR ARRAN R sations. Of course, there are lots of gold NTY!* s il a t PHOTOGRAPHY • THANASSIS STAVRAKIS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS nuggets about the Olympics, juicy behind- e d r fo the-scenes reflection and eavesdropping on re to * in s the life of a driven athlete. call or see Her writing spirit is contagious and Getting podium ready you can feel the empowerment sneak in. How can it not? McBean wowed us with Find your Olympic spirit with these six sporty books and movies her rowing prowess, but the now-retired Olympian continued to share her secret to sport domination with the Canadian BY JULES TORTI Unsinkable Olympic Committee as a specialist in by Silken Laumann athlete preparation. She showcases her ith athletes from around the Silken Laumann’s bronze-medal finish in the 1992 Olympic Games glittery 15-year rowing career and peppers globe converging this summer in single sculls rowing shook not only her cheerleading homeland it with fun and unexpected trivia like on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, now but the world. Just 10 weeks before the Barcelona Games, Laumann her Kilimanjaro climb, mad chess skills is the time to get in an Olympic was struck by a pair of German rowers during training. The collision and once-upon-a-time employment as a Wframe of mind. left her with a fractured fibula, sheared muscles and the devastating snowboard instructor. To help immerse you in the burning possibility that she may never row again. It’s not all gloating and gold medals. spirit of Rio, we’ve selected a six-pack of In “Unsinkable,” Laumann revisits the incident and illustrates There are honest admissions of failure and Olympic-themed books and films that her tenacity in overcoming obstacles. Her smooth and controlled her own struggles to be and do more (like have earned podium rights of their own. presence on the surface of water is an impressive balancing act when competing in the Canadian Eco-Challenge Call Gerry MacDonald or Larry McNab Host your own Olympic-themed book readers begin to tread the turbulent waters that marred the three-time Olympic medallist’s and hitting a wall, despite the physical for your club meeting or blend some protein childhood. Laumann’s courage to compete after the 1992 accident (which required five accolades that proceeded her). free in-home estimate! shakes and invite a crowd over for a invasive surgeries) and return to her boat after just 27 days pales when she discloses her If you need some serious cheerleading motivating movie night. family dysfunction, chronic anxiety and battle with anorexia. Her physical accomplish- and a big boost up the ladder of success — 118 Kent Ave, Kitchener Search for ProAwning ments are the mere surface of a life spent trying to outpace demons, self-loathing and a climb onto McBean’s shoulders and she’ll on facebook! troubled mother-daughter relationship. give you a quick leg up on the competition. 519.279.1688 proawning.ca 42 GRAND JULY I AUGUST 2016 JULY I AUGUST 2016 GRAND 43 Girl Runner covered by countless pected lethal consequences. CAREFREE by Carrie Snyder musicians from When Schultz’s equally successful older For a fictional foray Gheorghe Zamfir brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo) is invited to into the Olympics, to Alvin and the the estate, the conflict erupts. Mark has “Girl Runner” shares Chipmunks. Sweeping spent a lifetime in Dave’s shadow and is CONDO LIVING the story of 104- the Oscars in four finally coming into his own. As Mark falls year-old Aganetha categories, “Chariots deeper into the suffocating mind warp of du Smart. “I have of Fire” tells the story Pont and his spell, the brothers clash like outlived everyone of British track athletes rutting elk. Vanessa Redgrave is stellar as du I’ve ever loved and Eric Liddell, a Christian, and Harold Pont’s ego-crushing mother, who vocalizes everyone who ever Abrahams, an English Jew. Anti-Semitism her disapproval of her son’s interest in loved me.” A bit assumes a starring role and religious morals such a low-brow sport at every turn. The deaf by admission (“but not so deaf as they are challenged as the men compete against the tragic ending of “Foxcatcher” is the result think”) and not-quite blind, Smart grapples clock, family expectations and religious doctrine. of a fragmented childhood, mental illness with what little remains. Has she become Taking place in the fever around the and misdirected passion. It proves that the just a name in a forgotten record book? 1924 Olympics in Paris, Liddell’s devout greatest wrestling matches often happen in Riding on her diluted fame in the 1928 family members are not supportive of his the mind. Amsterdam Olympic Games, Smart hooks decision to prioritize running practice over arms with readers and brings them to the worship. His path is to be a missionary Prefontaine LIVING SPACES DESIGNED FOR first Games where women were allowed to in China and being asked to run on the This 1997 biopic follows the fast and compete in track and field events. Sabbath puts his religious convictions and furious life of Olympic contender Steve COMFORT + CONVENIENCE “Girl Runner” keeps a swift pace from family ties in a chokehold. Prefontaine (Jared Leto). The University the suspended days of solitude at the It’s a timeless battle between honour, of Oregon student and talent-smacked Surrounded by tranquility; distinguished nursing home to the adrenalin of the start sacrifice and inner religion. Guarantee, long-distance runner by exquisite exterior and interior design; line thanks to the arrival of two strangers. you’ll be humming this score over Drake’s established a quick personalized with your unique lifestyle The contemporary mystery braids narra- latest as you pound out that five-kilometre reputation for his aggres- tives from the past and present, running route. “Chariots of Fire” will undoubtedly sive approach to races and in mind. Grey Silo Gate is the new fingertips over the memories of war, the make you question what you’re running for routinely cleaned up at standard for those who seek the ultimate Depression, gender inequality and a rural and against. cross-country races, going in luxury, carefree condominium living. Ontario childhood in poetic verse. While full throttle from the many run away from their past, Smart races Foxcatcher starter gun’s blast. headlong toward it, ignoring the wheelchair The most surprising part of “Foxcatcher” The film’s heaviness is that confines her. is Steve Carrell’s twitchy portrayal of felt at the Munich Games in 1972, when Prices Starting $ For runners, the author’s note that follows multimillionaire and wrestling aficionado terrorists threaten to cancel the Olympic From is loaded with peculiar Olympic history and John du Pont. Those who events. Prefontaine fails to medal and ekes 409,900 astonishment. Snyder’s research touches on know him best from “The out a living bartending and calling a trailer women being banned from races further Office” and slapstick park home, pacing until he can challenge NORTHFIELD DR. than 200 metres until the 1960 Games in comedies like “Date Night” Finland’s Lasse Viren again in Montreal’s Rome. She shares the reasons behind her won’t recognize him as Games in 1976. His finish line came sooner COUNTRY SQUIRE RD. portrayal of Miss Alexandrine Gibb (the a disturbed eccentric than that. Prefontaine was killed in May one character in her book based on a real chasing a misguided 1975 at age 24 in a booze-fuelled car crash. MILLENNIUM BLVD. UNIVERSITY O person), team manager of the Canadian dream. When du Pont He once held the United States record in A C K AVE. EAST R GREY SILO O B P women’s team in 1928 and sports columnist invites Olympic gold wrestler Mark Schultz every distance from the 2,000 metres to the S A L V S GOLF COURSE R D G K . for the Toronto Daily Star. (Channing Tatum) to move to his estate 10,000 metres. A D T R E Fast fans of the Waterloo-based writer can at Foxcatcher Farms so he has the proper He ran for his country but also for the bet- . N RIM find more of Snyder’s work online at her foundation to train and focus on the 1988 terment of amateur athletes’ lives, funding PARK GREY SILO RD. well-fed blog, Obscure CanLit Mama. Olympic Games, du Pont’s overbearing and governance. Steadfast, he challenged psychosis emerges. Tainted by his wealth the role of the United States in preparing Sales Centre: 243 Grey Silo Rd. Waterloo Chariots of Fire and the seduction of du Pont’s promises, runners for competition in an international Mon-Wed 4-7pm | Sat & Sun 1-5pm or by appt.