Like his career, former sprinter Bruny Surin enthusiastically accepted the role as chef de mission entrusted to him by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) for the Paris Summer Games in 2024. At age 54, the gold medalist in 4 x 100 m at the Atlanta Games in 1996, wanted to put his experience to the service of athletes. The former athlete turned entrepreneur, speaker and analyst offers us his first impressions.
Q. Congratulations on your appointment. How did you hear the news and what was your reaction?
A. I am thrilled. I can’t stop dancing. The pain eh! I was on a conference call with the Canadian Olympic Committee and that’s where I found out. For me ever since party!
I can say it’s up to me bucket list since a long time. Since my retirement [en 2002], I have always wanted to pass on to the next generation and be part of the Olympic movement. I have always wanted to participate in sports. And there, to be the leader of the mission, the speaker, the cheerleading athletes, insane.
Over the next two years, I want to see competitions if I want to know the athletes. I just don’t want to go to Paris just to talkganyan or of such a sport. I want to have an athlete history until 2024. I’m not going to lie, it’s a big big giveaway, but it’s a job I take seriously.
Q. Usually, the appointment of chef de mission is made one year before the Olympic Games. This time, it happened two years before. What will this extra year allow you to do?
A. I love it, and I like it even more, because I think I will have more time to learn about athletes. It would be like a build up. We talk a lot about the athlete environment, and I want to make sure, along with the COC, that we’re there for the athletes. We will tell athletes: What do you need, from now on, for you to get to Paris and be the best at yourself? Not in the sense that they have to win a medal, but instead they can perform to the best of their ability. And for me to be a part of that is a bonus.
What I also told COC was that during the Youth Games in 2018, I had the opportunity to talk to some coaches and some parents. I’m also a parent, I’m also a parent of athletes hoping to get to the Games, and I know that side. On the coaching side, I’ve personally experienced this all my life, I take coaching classes, so I understand what coaching feels like, the struggles they face, injuries, etc.
And if we also want to talk the side business of the Olympic movement, more broadly, I became an athlete’s agent and I was in business, and therefore I could talk to everyone there. I want to add my two cents, I want to advise and encourage as much as I can so that we can have a good Olympic Games.
Q. Does the fact that the next Games are taking place in Paris also weigh in on the balance?
A. Of course. In Paris, it couldn’t be better, and it’s not a whim. I’ve been thinking about this for ten years. And in accepting the role in 2018, I told myself it was a first step, a first springboard for the Olympics. It is a goal to be achieved, and I will do my best.
Q. How do you see your role in the current context, after two years of COVID and possibly back to normal in 2024?
A. We are not out of COVID yet. We’re definitely planning ourselves in Paris and we want it to be as normal as possible, we see it, but we’re in transition right now. We’re talking about removing the mask right now, but there are still negative side effects, and we’re not 100% out of it yet.
Yes, there will be more vulnerable athletes, so the only message I want to share with them is that if they have any concerns, whether in training or otherwise, I can be available for them. That they can email me or message me on social media and I can advise them.
For me, it gives back. I published on my blog a text called What is my medal for? Regardless of the medium, I want to push people in the right direction. And to athletes, it will be that way. I’ve been there too. I also as an athlete, in the beginning, I had no money. I tried to join the competitions and they closed the doors on me.
These are all things I have experienced and I can share them and talk to athletes. An Olympic experience where everything went well, I lived. Olympic Games that haven’t been good, I’ve experienced as well, and that’s all I want to share with them from now on.
Q. What was the role of Chefs de Mission when you yourself were an Olympic athlete in 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000?
A. The role of the chef de mission as we know it today, I saw more of it happen in 1996. Yes, we were with the Athletics Canada team, but on the preparatory side, we spoke to the COC to tell them that as a relay team, we want to have our own place to work on our team spirit.
We were able to create atmosphere and boom, we got the gold medal. That’s why we need to ask athletes what they need. And our job is to try to make it as accessible as possible. If possible, we will do our best to give them what they need.
Q. Do you see yourself as a conduit between athletes and the COC?
A. Yes. Back then, we said there were athletes, federations and the COC. They form three distinct entities, and often the language is not the same between them. I am not here to be a preacherbut when these entities become one, we will have, in my opinion, more medals, healthier environments [pour les athlètes] and we will speak the same language.
Me, when I was there in 1988 and even in 1992, almost everyone was for himself. But quietly, we see rapprochements, and my job is to try to bring them closer.
Q. You mentioned this earlier, you were Canada’s Chef de Mission at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2018. How did that experience influence your decision to take over for the Olympic Games? Paris?
A. I really enjoyed my experience. First, to see the different disciplines. I’m a sports guy, love to learn and love to see behind the scenes. I want to have a role spectator who also knows what’s going on on the pitch. Having access to these athletes, without straying too far from their bubble, for me, is a gift. It’s like being part of their team, it’s like going to the Olympics with them and being part of that movement, with Canadian pride. Nakakabaliw! It was like my fifth Game.
Q. Have you spoken with previous Canadian Heads of Mission to discuss their experiences and the role you need to play? Who are your mentors?
A. I even see them outside, for example when they speak and when they attend competitions. I think of Isabelle Charest, Nathalie Lambert, Sylvie Bernier and Curt Harnett. And I told the Canadian Olympic Committee that I would call them one by one to tell me how it was, what they liked, what they didn’t like, their great experiences.
And I’ll take all these tools and use them to be better work again. I really want to know what they went through from the inside, and I’ll do that in the coming weeks.
Q. What would you like to improve about this role and your role as a mission leader?
A. I want athletes to see that Mr. Surin, I prefer athletes to call me Bruny. I don’t want to be cliché and the world thinks I want them to be friends, but I want athletes to say to themselves: Whatever happens, Bruny is available for me. I want to be a great spokesperson for COC.
Q. There is also a political aspect that accompanies the role of the mission leader. Is this something you are willing to tackle?
A. Absolutely. At the same time, I also told them not to role puppet which I accept. Yes, there is a trend of action, but I don’t want to be a puppet. I had things to discuss at COC, but I also discussed my perspective.
Q. Are you happy with your journey and your position within the Canadian Olympic movement?
A. I am very grateful. I want to help and I do it with my foundation working with young people. I give because life also gives a lot. Everything I learned in the sport with my coaches and my parents, I wanted to have the opportunity to share with young people and entrepreneurs.
When I was still running, I thought it would be nice to have a conference, and I’m into that. It’s been 20 years since I retired. And again yesterday, people were talking to me about the 1996 Olympic Games.
Yes, we worked hard for that, but life gives me so much … like the gift of being a mission leader. It’s nice to receive, but it’s also nice to give.
Q. You will need to relinquish your role as a media analyst to be the head of the Canadian delegation mission. Do you have pain in your heart? I thought you wouldn’t be able to stop giving your predictions when athletics events started?
A. It is certain and definite! Of course I can read. [Rires] I’ll be a little careful, but for sure I can read. Of course I love being on television, making predictions and all that.
There, I’ll watch, and even though I like it, it’s not something I’m going to miss. This is another challenge. I opened the page for these Games. And for the following, there may be others. We’ll take a look.
Q. Marnie McBean made an impact with her drumming on Squamish Nation at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Have you ever wondered what you are going to do?
A. Of course there will be, but what, I don’t know yet. [Rires].
Source: Radio-Canada
