Callander native Taylor Milne will be heading to the Olympics for the second time.
The first time he competed in Beijing in 2008 in the men’s 1500 m. In 2016, the 34-year-old will represent Canada in the steeplechase in Rio.
Milne qualified with a first place finish in the 3000 m steeplechase final at the 2016 Canadian Championships and Rio Selection Trials which took place in Edmonton on the weekend.
Milne switched over from 1500 m specialty to the steeplechase back in 2012.
"I switched over after 2012. I gave myself four years to get it right,” he told CBC radio last week.
“I am now more prepared for the nationals than I ever have been.”
Milne, who works as a field researcher in Guelph when he isn’t training, believes making the Olympics for a second time, justifies all the hard work he has put in.
“I’ve spent my entire adult life doing it and this would give a little more purpose to it if I can get in,” he told the CBC.
Milne says the 2008 Olympic birth was unexpected but he was certainly disappointed not to make the Olympic team in 2012.
Milne joins local swimmer in Rio
Ironically, North Bay native Dominque Bouchard was also disappointed in 2012 when she failed to make the Olympics.
Bouchard will be competing in both the 200 m and 100 m backstroke events for Canada in Rio as well.
See that story here: https://www.baytoday.ca/sports/bouchard-qualifies-for-another-olympic-event-276201
