North Bay’s Nick Laporte took another step forward in his dream to compete in the 2020 Olympics.
The up and coming sprinter exchanged his skates as a pro hockey player in Europe for cleats back in 2016 and has been motivated by the death of his friend Mariano Ezeta, whom he was training with at the University of Calgary.
See original story: A motivated local athlete pursuing an Olympic dream
Laporte networked through Hockey Night in Canada icon Ron McLean last month to coordinate a meeting with former Olympic and track and field trainer Ben Johnson.
That led the former North Bay Skyhawks defenceman to Newmarket last week where he met with Johnson.
“I say he exceeded my expectations,” stated Laporte.
“He was really down to earth talking to him, I was not sure what kind of guy he would be but he was a super down to earth guy. He could tell I was pretty serious about this journey...that I have put a lot of time into organizing things.
“He is looking forward to getting started as soon as we can get down there and I think he is going to whip me into shape pretty quick. I think he could tell I will be a pretty hard-working guy.”
But there is one obstacle for Laporte who recently celebrated his 28th birthday. Without running any sanctioned races, Laporte, who has hand timed a10.5 100 meter time, cannot find corporate support to help offset the high costs of training in Toronto.
Laporte says he will try and moonlight and work an evening job to try and offset some of the high costs of training with Johnson. So Laporte has started a GoFundme page.
“I’m hoping this GoFundme page takes off and I am able to move down there and I can start training right away. Obviously, I don’t need the full amount for that to happen but if I can raise $2,000 I can find a place by York University and I can start training six days a week.”
Laporte hopes to make that move soon, as he continues to work as an extra in the series Carter that is being shot in North Bay, before he hopes to really take off with training. He hopes to sprint for Team Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
To go to the GoFundme page click HERE
