Kenora will have some local pride at stake in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, after swimmer Gabe Mastromatteo was officially named to Team Canada on Thursday.
The 19-year-old placed first in the 100-metre breast stroke qualifier with a time of 1:00:19 earlier this week, earning a spot on the men’s medley relay team.
Mastromatteo, who was born in Thunder Bay and grew up in Kenora, said Thursday making the team was a long-held goal, but he wasn’t quite ready to let himself celebrate.
“The job’s not done yet,” he said.
The teenager approaches the competition with a Zen-like focus, saying he’s not feeling particularly perturbed by the glare of world media and a nation’s expectations.
“At the end of the day, all I have to do is go [to the other end of the pool] and back,” he said. “It’s not too complicated.”
COVID-19 restrictions could lead to less fraternal atmosphere than a usual Olympics, he expects, with less mixing allowed between teams from different countries.
However, he said he’s looking forward to the experience and bonding with his Team Canada teammates
“I love relays, I love swimming for the team and swimming for something bigger than myself,” he said.
While the decision to host the games in the face of an ongoing pandemic has drawn some controversy, Mastromatteo said he ultimately put faith in officials with the IOC and Japan to measure the risks and respond appropriately.
“I trust the officials,” he said. “If I’m being told it’s alright to go, I’m going to do what I’m told.”
Reflecting on the steps that led him to the games, he said growing up in a smaller and more remote community might have constrained some opportunities, but also offered benefits, he said.
“There were definitely a lot of challenges… the grass is always greener somewhere else, [with] bigger training centres, better weight rooms,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I realized everyone needs something different. Two people can get to the same point with completely different paths.”
Among the positives of training in Kenora was a tight-knit community he said had been strongly supportive.
“All of Northwestern Ontario has been very supportive,” he said. “It’s really nice to know you have a community behind you. When you’re at practice [and] don’t want to do another five kilometres, you’re like, ‘oh, there’s a lot of people out there watching.’ It helps.”
His mother and long-time coach Janet Hyslop, is another key support.
Because of that dual relationship, Mastromatteo was able to celebrate his qualifying win with at least one family member.
“Usually your family’s able to be there, [but] this year, because of COVID, we couldn’t,” he said. “But she was there, so that was a pretty cool touch.”
The next step for Mastromatteo is a flight to Vancouver to join Team Canada’s staging camp, then onto Tokyo near the end of July.
The Olympic Games will take place from July 23 to Aug. 8.
