Mcbride won't let injuries derail his Olympic dreams
Canadian record holder over 800 metres arrives in Tokyo with tough new mindset
Brandon Mcbride refuses to be consumed with frustration.
The Canadian record holder in the men's 800 metres, the 27-yearold Mcbride spent much of the spring and early summer battling dysfunctional movement issues in his hamstring, hip and pelvis.
“The thing I love about sport is that it teaches you a lot of life lessons,” said Mcbride, who is a Herman high school product. “I'm just grateful for the ups and downs, because without the downs, the ups wouldn't be as good.”
The big up for Mcbride is that, despite missing the Canadian Olympic trials, it didn't prevent him from securing a spot in his second Olympic Games because he had already reached the qualifying standard in the past year.
“It's always an amazing feeling to be officially named,” Mcbride said. “With everything that's occurred in the last year, I'm just happy to be in the position.
“Despite the injuries and the rough path, my journey's taught me a whole lot and I've learned a whole lot about myself about how to approach things in a different two years (dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic).”
Mcbride reached the semifinals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, but says much has changed since that race.
“It's very different,” Mcbride said. “I feel I had a storybook lead up (to 2016) and everything went right. This year, it's a little different. Whatever could go wrong, did go wrong, but my growth this year has been enormous and I wouldn't change it for the world
“I find myself competing in a different body. My 27-year-old body is much different than my 22-yearold body.”
But as much as he may have changed physically, Mcbride also has a much different mental outlook when he races.
“My path being as difficult as it was, I have developed a lot more of a tough mindset,” Mcbride said. “I find myself a lot mentally tougher than (age) 22 after having to endure what you have to do. I have a mental strength I didn't have when I was 22.”
Before arriving in Tokyo, Mcbride had a chance to do a little running in Europe to gauge his progress.
“Training is definitely trending in the right direction,” Mcbride said. “My last training block has been very similar to where I've been in previous years. Things are coming around at the right time.”
Aside from the injuries, Mcbride said the mental part of preparing for an Olympic Games a year after it was scheduled also takes a toll on athletes.
“It's completely different, just because of the year and how irregular it was and the different process,” Mcbride said.
Along with training, Mcbride has used the year leading up to Tokyo to take some of his sponsorship money from Adidas and turn it into grocery gift cards for local families struggling through the COVID -19 pandemic. He also created the non-profit Mcbride Youth United Associations and collected winter coats for local kids through nine area charities.
“It's been a lot more stressful this year, worrying about the day-today stuff and navigating the world we live in now,” said Mcbride, who is also working on his master's degree in business at Wayne State University in Detroit. “It's been very stressful, but I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I'll be ready when it counts.”
The 800 metres is often a race of strategy and can change from heat to heat. One heat might be an almost all-out sprint for two laps while the other a more tactical catand-mouse game.
“You have to prepare your body for whatever occurs,” Mcbride said. “The 800 can be run in a lot of different ways. I've just been preparing for every scenario in training.”
Heats are scheduled to start just before 10 a.m. on Saturday in Tokyo, which is just before 9 p.m. on Friday locally. The semifinals will go on Sunday with the final on Wednesday. Mcbride believes the pandemic, which has tormented these Games, will also factor in along the way.
“I think it will have an impact,” Mcbride said. “I do believe it comes down to how well the individual athlete has dealt with stress. It's more stress management. It's whoever can really navigate that world.
“I think I'm just framing (my goals) different. Because I've matured, I'm more focused on the process. Instead of worrying about time or place, I'm more worried about getting there. I do have a plan and a playbook, but you never know what will happen. There are little speed bumps and you have to be ready.”
Despite the injuries and the rough path, my journey's taught me a whole lot and I've learned a whole lot about myself ...