Tyler Christopher charged out of the starting blocks like a ballistic missile. But halfway through the 400-metre sprint in the sports arena in Valencia, Spain, he jockeyed for position — only to be blocked by Sweden’s Johan Wissman and Bahamian rival Chris Brown. So after the final turn, Christopher pumped his legs into overdrive, swooped to the outside and overtook the duo at the finish line on March 9 — the first Canadian victory at a World Indoor Championships event since Perdita Felicien won the women’s 60-metre hurdles in 2004.
“I didn’t really have too much preparation,” recalls the Edmonton-based racer about his mental state on the day of the race. “Once you’re confident you’re going to win, you don’t need to prep anymore.”
With a laid-back cadence more akin to a rapper winding down from a night of bustin’ rhymes than an athlete grabbing the global spotlight, the 24-year-old sounds more blasé than boastful. He’s certainly earned bragging rights, though, and not only for that indoor title. Last year, he won silver at the Pan American Games in Brazil, and a bronze in 2005 at the International Amateur Athletic Federation World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki, snaring a personal best of 44.44 seconds — a Canadian record. Yet he’ll be severely tested this August at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Christopher, who ended 2007 ranked fourth internationally, will have to best the Americans, who have won eight of nine medals in the 400-m sprint at the major championships since 2004. (Christopher blocked their clean sweep with his bronze in 2005.) Monopolizing the upper berths are LaShawn Merritt, (silver medalist at the 2007 Worlds), Angelo Taylor, (2007 bronze medalist) and Jeremy Wariner — whose personal best of 43.45 is within striking distance of former Olympian Michael Johnson’s all-time record of 43.18, set in 1999. Mitigating his chances is the fact that none of the so-called Apple Pie triumvirate took part in that monumental Valencia race. Still, Christopher is bent on staining a potentially star-spangled podium with his own dash of maple syrup. “All the Americans are in my face. And that’s who I want to take down.”
“Winning the world indoor championship is significant and it’s done a lot for his confidence,” adds Kevin Tyler, director of the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre at the University of Alberta, and Christopher’s coach for nearly four years. “He’s always been fairly driven, so I think he recognizes his potential.”
Christopher credits his drive to a rural upbringing outside Chilliwack, B.C. “I’m used to working hard everyday, ever since I was young.” He recalls chucking hay bales for money during summers. “We weren’t dirt poor or anything, but think of a single mom trying to raise two kids, and it’s a little rough.”
In track he discovered a potential ticket to the big time and, at 17, moved to Edmonton for its world-class facilities (the Butterdome’s indoor track) and training group. Since the establishment of the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre in 2003, he’s found its organized approach to training ideal as he further develops his track career.
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