Name: Mike Janyk
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Hometown: Whistler
Nickname: Panic Janyk
Favourite Sports Memory: My first podium in World Cup, 2nd place in Beaver Creek when 13 of my friends, sister and Mom were in the stands. To share this with them and ski my best was amazing.
How you got involved in your sport: Skiing has always been part of my family. My grandfather was a ski racer, my mom and uncles were ski racers so as soon as I was old enough to get on skis and chase my sister it was on.
The moment you knew you wanted to represent Canada: When I was 13 years old, lying in my bed with a broken leg, I knew I would ski for Canada in the Olympics and on the World Cup.
Favourite Quote: “You don’t dance to get to the other side of the dance floor.”
CAN Fund Testimonial: Anything that allows an athlete bring more focus and energy to your training, the more your tilting the scales towards success. Alleviating the financial costs involved in sport is a huge element of this.
Best Result: World Championship Bronze medal 2009
Share one valuable tool that you use on a daily basis that helps you to be the best athlete you can be: I have three that go together. Yoga, meditation and journal-ling. All of these things bring awareness and strengthen our unique qualities that make us succeed and enjoy the process.
Who is one person in your life that has impacted your career and what was it that they taught you: There are so many, but one directly in skiing was Thomas Grandi, ex teammate. He taught me what it was to be a professional athlete and to leave everything out on the course when you race.
Have you read any articles or books or watched any videos or movies recently that really inspired you: I’m reading Baron Baptiste’s book “Being of Power” right now and find it really inspiring. I love “the Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, I watched “Few Words” and was inspired by Candide Thovex and his skiing. I was really inspired by watching the Canadian woman’s soccer team win Bronze in the London Games! Lastly, I just watched a show on Venus Williams on how she fought for equal prize money in tennis and was inspired by the role she played off the court as a leader in her sport. http://espn.go.com/espnw/w-in-action/nine-for-ix/article/8948839/nine-ix-film-summary-director-venus-vs
Fun Facts: I take my espresso very seriously, come to my house and I’ll make you the best shot of espresso in Whistler. I also love cooking, mostly without any recipe’s simply throwing things together and seeing what comes out. I’ve hosted some great schnitzel parties, my schnitzel has a west coast twist made with coconut oil, buckwheat flower and organic chick.
Website: www.mikejany.com
