For a sport like luge in which experience is a crucial ingredient to success being a teenager is a short-term disadvantage. At such a young age it is highly unlikely that the luger will have had the same number of runs or dealt with the same level of competitive atmosphere as his elders. But, it also gives that athlete more time to amass experience and ability before they reach their athletic peak.
18 year old Canadian Mitchel Malyk was at an experiential disadvantage at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He was fully aware of this, and considered the event to be as much of an education in the sport as it was a competition. What he learned will only help him going forward.
For Malyk, the biggest thing that he learned was the need to treat the Olympic Games mentally like just another competition, and not to get caught up in the insanity of the event.
“There is so much hype during Games time by media and friends that it can get overwhelming for the athletes,” Malyk tells Last Word On Sports. “I learnt that you need to focus on what you came there to do and not let anything distract you.”
But while there are some things Malyk wants to change come next Olympics, other aspects were done correctly. He believes his preparation, for one, was very good heading into the games in Sochi.
“I don’t think I will change much at all,” he says of his preparation. “I think myself and the coaching staff are on a good path to push for the top, and with four more years of experience and training I am very hopeful for the future.”
The future is certainly bright athletically for Malyk, who was Canada’s youngest male athlete at the 2014 Olympic Games. The event also sees him heading into the future with a newfound sense of inspiration.
“Knowing everyone at home was watching [gave] me a sense of pride I cannot put into words,” explains Malyk. “I don’t think I will ever forget that moment or feeling, and moving forward that is definitely driving me to keep pushing for the top.”
However, learning was not the entirety of the Olympic Games. Malyk was still very much a competitor, and wanted to do as well as possible. Having finished in the top 20 twice on the World Cup circuit only added to that desire for success. He did not finish in the top 20, but Malyk was still content with his performance.
“Overall I am very happy with my performance at these Games,” says Malyk, “and I feel the experience gained will be extremely beneficial looking forward towards PyeongChang.”
Malyk finished the Olympic luge event in 26th place. Teammate and mentor Samuel Edney finished in 11th while their teammate John Fennell finished one spot behind Malyk in 27th
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