Today’s students may be inspired to hit the gym after reading Giulio Zardo’s story.
Zardo was still a student when he finished fifth in the bobsledding competition at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002. He had no bobsledding experience before joining the team just seven months before the games. Instead, he came highly recommended by the owner of the Hochelaga gym where he worked out.
Considering a run at qualifying for the next Olympics?
Ouellette offered up some advice for aspiring Concordians: “Balance your commitments and your passion for the game, and just be the best athlete you can be,” she said, before adding that competing in varsity sports can open a lot of doors.
“There are great opportunities at the university level, from entering the Under-22s and making your way up.”
Concordians at the Winter Olympics
Athletes
Frank Shaughnessy Jr. (BA 32), Hockey, 1936 (US)
Paul Levesque (BA 57), Luge, 1968
Larry Arbuthnot (BComm 74), Luge, 1968, 1972, 1974
Thérèse Brisson (BSc 89), Hockey, 1998, 2002
Karyn Bye-Dietz (GrDip 95), Hockey, 1998, 2002 (US)
Cammi Granato (attendee), Hockey, 1998, 2002 (US)
Giulio Zardi (attendee), Bobsled, 2002
Caroline Ouellette (attendee), Hockey (w), 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
Cecilia Andersson (attendee), Hockey (w), 2006 (Sweden)
Alexandre Bilodeau (BComm 16), Freestyle Skiing, 2010, 2014
Trainers and Coaches
Kenneth Lowe, Hockey trainer (m), 2002, 2006
Jim Corsi, hockey coach (m) 2006 (Italy)
With files from Concordia’s Records Management and Archives.
Do you know any other Concordia Winter Olympic stories? Email them to us at: now@concordia.ca.