I've been sitting here for the last three hours trying to figure out a catchy punchline or sentence to start this post and its just not coming to me today. So basically this is just what the title says, a quick look back on the incredible year that I have had over the past 365 days. Full of new friendships, adventures, experiences, lessons and oppourtunities. I will try my best not to bore you with a novel and rather just touch on the key highlights of the year. The year got off to a slow start with the bigger part of my recovery from a concussion in late December of 2015. Thankfully there were no other major injuries or crashes this year that put me off the bike for any major length of time (also a huge relief for my parents). This has been my first full year training with a pure track sprint focus and taking all road races out of my plans. It was a welcome change but it was definitely a bit strange not travelling to a new town or location each weekend through the spring and early summer for road races. The first challenge this year for me was provincial championships in early March with only a month of training under my belt. I some how managed to pull off a silver medal in the match sprint and a bronze in the kilo. Jumping a month forward to April, it was already Nationals and qualifications for Junior Worlds. I came away with two medals from the competition; a silver in match sprint and gold in the team sprint alongside Adam Lefebvre and Lucas Taylor. I was incredibly honoured to be selected to Team Canada for the 2016 Junior Worlds in Switzerland and it was by far the highlight of my year. It was a big step for me in my development as an athlete and as a person. It was a huge eye opener for me in terms of how much work it really takes to be at the top of your sport and I will use that experience going forward as motivation to keep pushing. Some of my favourite memories from this year came from those three weeks and I think the best of all was being beside Stefan when he won the kilo world title. I got home at the end of July and took most of August away from training to just be a kid again for a few weeks and enjoy whatever part of summer vacation I had left before school started up again in September. I spent most of my time working at our local bike shop and with family. It seemed like August flew by and before I knew it I was starting my final year of high school which is incredibly bittersweet, I cant believe that its grade 12 already! By this time I am back to training full time again and preparing for upcoming competitions that included the Milton International Challenge and the first Ontario Cup of the 2016-2017 Track Season over the next few months. (Blog continues after pictures) Many things to be thankful for this year and I can't thank everyone enough for everything this year. Some special thank you's go out to Michael Suraci and the OCA for all the support this year, to my coaches Rob Good, Samantha Eyles and Joseph Veloce for believing in me and constantly pushing me to be a better version of myself everyday, on and off the bike. And a big thank you to my my parents, I wouldnt be here today without you guys. You have been my biggest supporters since day one and have never stopped believing in me and allowing me to do what I love to do.
Your past is a story and its up to you to write the future. I can't wait to see what is ahead for me in the coming months and years. I am ready for 2017! Happy New Year everyone! Cheers, Nick
Rob Melnyk
12/31/2016 09:27:37 pm
Nice blog, Nick! Best wishes for the new year ahead!
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