Matt Brisson makes strides toward Olympic dream

Story by Kaleigh Rodgers

The number one ranked 60m hurdler in Canada can add another first place finish to his list of accomplishments after the CIS Track and Field Championships in Edmonton. Fourth-year Criminology student Matt Brisson walked away from the championship last week with a gold medal and personal-best time of 7.87.

This is an exciting victory for Brisson who won top honors at OUA for the same event just weeks before. Brisson has placed in the top three at CIS and the top two at OUA throughout the four years of his athletic career at Western. While Brisson has achieved many personal athletic achievements, he is especially proud of the Mustangs’ cumulative team efforts.

“The highlight of my time as a Mustang, on top of my own individual accomplishments, would have to be when our men’s team won the national championship last year,” said Brisson. “We were the first men’s track and field team to do it for Western, and as a captain on that team, I was very proud of my teammates for stepping up when it really mattered.”

Brisson’s previous achievements and commitment to training made him a top contender for the 2012 Canadian Olympic Team. Along with 13 other Western Track and Field teammates, Brisson travelled to Calgary this past June for the Canadian Olympic Trials. Unfortunately, Brisson missed the cut for Team Canada by 0.13 of a second, but he is determined to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

“Almost qualifying for the Olympics this summer was exciting, and has left me wanting to train even harder and get even faster,” said Brisson. “When I graduate next year my plans are to train full time for the Olympics. I will do that for as long as my body will allow me to meet the physical demands of competing at a high level in my sport.”

While the 2016 Olympics are still quite far away, Brisson will have a busy schedule this year training for several competitions including the World Championships in Moscow, Russia; The World University Games (FISU) in Kazan, Russia; and the Francophone Games in Nice, France. Brisson is confident that with rigorous training and a continued performance success he will make the grade to compete at these prestigious events.

For more information on the Western Mustangs: http://www.westernmustangs.ca