Name: John Kucera
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Nickname: Johnny
Favourite Sports Memory: Watching Hermann Maier win two gold medals at the Nagano Olympics after his huge crash in the Downhill two days earlier.
How you got involved in your sport: My parents got me started at an early age, and when I was 5 they enrolled me at the local ski club.
The moment you knew you wanted to represent Canada: Probably around the age of 14 when I made the decision that skiing was going to be a career I wanted to pursue.
Favourite Quote: “Pain is weakness leaving the body.”
CAN Fund Testimonial: Having an organization like CAN Fund in Canada is invaluable to Canadian athletes. Sport is an expensive endeavor, and many athletes don’t have the opportunity to realize their potential just because they can’t afford it. CAN Fund gives athletes who need financial support an opportunity to pursue their dreams.
Best Result: 2009 World Downhill Champion
Share one valuable tool that you use on a daily basis that helps you to be the best athlete you can be: My mental strength when it comes to dealing with adversity.
Who is one person in your life that has impacted your career and what was it that they taught you: My late coach Jason Lapierre. He taught me the value of hard work and determination, which are attributes that have shaped my career.
Fun Facts: I enjoy dirt biking during the summer months, even competing a few times a year. I also love being out in the country camping and enjoying the backcountry.
Website: www.johnkucera.ca