Brendon Rodney Interview
Following on from our Aaron Brown interview a couple of weeks back, it's time to chat to another Canadian sprinter in Brendon Rodney about his career and hopes ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics! Brendon tells us everything from what drew him into the sport, right through to how the current pandemic has altered his preparations for the games. It's another exciting addition to our interview series that you'll be sure to love!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Please note this is an automated transcript that may contain errors.
BEN WATERWORTH: It is Off The Podium, An Olympics Podcast, and we're back for another athlete interview in our special series of interviews with athletes who have either competed in the Olympic Games or are about to compete in the Olympic Games, basically. We should really be in the zone right now, of course, for Tokyo 2020, but unfortunately, that's not the case. So we're bringing you some special episodes in the meantime. Today's guest is Brendon Rodney, a bronze medallist from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, part of the four by 100 metre team for Canada that took out a bronze medal in those games. Now, we spoke with Aaron Brown a couple of weeks ago, so Brendon Rodney in that team as well. And Brendon gives a great interview here, chatting about how we got into the sport, sort of looking up to certain idols, working with coaches, getting in the zone of sprinting. The differences, I guess, between working with the 200 and the 100. Brendon's more of a 200 metre specialist, so kind of how does that differ to working maybe more so on the 100 metres. The current shutdown, how that affected his preparation, and everything else in between. A really fun chat here with Brendon Rodney. And first on this podcast, as myself, an Australian, gets to speak to a Canadian athlete. So it was bound to happen one day, and this is what is happening today. So here it is, our chat with Olympic bronze medallist, Brendon Rodney.
BEN WATERWORTH: As we continue on our interview series here in Off The Podium, I'm very excited to be able to speak to our next guest. And it's an unusual thing for me, because generally, I'm the one interviewing the Australian athletes, and Colin's the one interviewing the Canadian athletes. But we're doing it a little bit differently today. I'm the one interviewing a Canadian athlete, and I'm very excited to be able to do this. He's a bronze medallist from the Rio Olympics in the four by 100 metre relay, also competed in the 200 metres at those games. And the first time I think I get to speak to somebody in athletics as well, so ticking off a few boxes. I do, of course, speak with one, the only Mr. Brendon Rodney. Brendon, pleasure to have you on the program today, mate.
BRENDON RODNEY: Thank you very much.
BEN WATERWORTH: I'm doing very, very well. How about yourself? You are in Jamaica right now. I just want to share that with the world that you are sunning it up in beautiful Jamaica. How is Jamaica currently at the moment?
BRENDON RODNEY: It's actually really hot right now, but it's nice, you know, every day. You know, I know I don't really got to check the weather. It's very rare to get rain in the summer until maybe August, September. And I know it's going to be hot, so I don't have much choices of what to wear.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, that makes it a little bit easier, no doubt. And I can imagine too, for sort of going outside and having a run every now and then ago, that's checking the weather. You don't need to worry about, oh, it's going to rain today. I can just go outside and go for a run.
BRENDON RODNEY: Yeah, I mean, usually you can tell when it's going to rain. You just look up in the sky and it starts to get dark and the clouds are there. So you don't really have to check too much.
BEN WATERWORTH: Makes it a little bit easier. I'm very intrigued about kind of your background and how you got into sprinting, because I believe growing up, you were very active in terms of your sporting pursuits. But did I read correctly that you actually were a high jumper that kind of got into sprinting? Is that how it turned out?
BRENDON RODNEY: Yeah, that's exactly kind of how it turned out. I was just at a track meet one day, and I seen like, he was on my team, and I was like, ah, I gotta be faster than him. And they were like, maybe. And I was like, all right, so let me try run the relay the next time. And that's kind of like just how it started. I just seen a guy and I was like, I can be faster than him. So that's kind of how I just got into sprinting.
BEN WATERWORTH: So what led you into high jump in the first place of all the disciplines that you can kind of choose, I guess, in athletics? What was it about high jump?
BRENDON RODNEY: I think, honestly, I didn't really have a choice because I was coming from playing basketball. So whereas, you know, you could jump and you're playing basketball, you're going for ball. You're like, oh, come do high jump, you're tall already. So, you know, jumping is great. And it was just another way of missing school.
BEN WATERWORTH: That's always a goal, right? I think any athlete will say, the only reason we do that, we just want to get out of school. And that works the best. So when you sort of, you say like, okay, I'm going to be faster than him, and you go into that, I mean, do you get noticed? Kind of, do you then realise yourself like, hey, I'm actually quite good at this. I'm going to pursue this a little bit further.
BRENDON RODNEY: I'm not at first. At first I was just like, oh, I can run fast. So, hey, let me continue running. But I was still high jumping. And then eventually like, I got tired of high jump. I'm tired of the training. I was like, all right, let me just continue sprinting. Like this is fine. I can do this. And then I started to like, realise like, oh, I'm actually all right. That's kind of how I got moving, like progressing into continuing to be track and field.
BEN WATERWORTH: And was it sort of with all the sports that you were competing in and growing up, was the Olympics something that you kind of paid attention to? I mean, I think you might be maybe a little bit too young to remember Donovan Bailey, but I'm sure you obviously probably learned about that later on. But I mean, was that something you followed closely growing up? Was the Olympic games?
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, I think I honestly can remember playing with like other kids and like somebody throwing a ball. And it was just like, I was trying to run it down. It was just too far to reach. I'm like, who do you think I am? Donovan Bailey? Like I remember seeing something like that when I was young. But I mean, I knew who he was. And like growing up, I knew about track and field and athletics. And you know, so it wasn't something that I was unfamiliar with, but at the same time, I don't think track and field or the Olympics was the goal for me as a child playing sports. It was just always to be like, oh, I want to be a professional athlete.
BEN WATERWORTH: Was there a goal with any of the sports that you played that like being a professional athlete, was there one that you were thinking, wow, this is the dream. This is where I want to be.
BRENDON RODNEY: I think of any sport I played. So if I was playing soccer, I wanted to play like in the premier league, or if I was playing basketball, I wanted to be in the NBA. It was just always, oh, let's be a professional athlete. So I think that was the major thing that I wanted to achieve as an athlete in general. That was the goal, I guess.
BEN WATERWORTH: And I guess at that point where you're sort of mentioning before about how with sprinting, you sort of realised, hey, you know, I'm not too bad at this. There must have come a time where all of a sudden you had to switch focus purely to that. I mean, was there a time or did you still continue to play other sports?
BRENDON RODNEY: I played other sports until I was 19. So it was like my final year of high school. And like, I remember in January, like I came, we came back on my Christmas break and I was like, all right, coach, I gotta focus on track now. I mean, I can't complain. It's just what it is. And he's like, all right, dude, dude, do what you gotta do. And I was like, that was like the first time I actually stopped playing other sports in order to focus on solely athletics. So I remember.
BEN WATERWORTH: And does that then, cause I can imagine purely focusing your training on one sport that makes you a better athlete, I can imagine. Does that then improve your sprinting if you're solely focusing on that rather than playing the other sports you were?
BRENDON RODNEY: Well, to me, no. What to everybody else? Yeah. I mean, I think the other sports kind of like a lot of athletes, especially the younger ones, like when they focus on a one sport too young, they end up being stressed out and getting tired of it. And for me, me having other sports around doing was what kept the joy in track and field as well as them. So I think the issues that the people who specialise in a sport earlier than me, I never really ended up having. So a lot of people who were specialised in sports when I'm like 12 years old, when they were my age at 19, they were like, oh, I'm tired of this, or I keep getting hurt or something like that. You know, where I didn't have those issues, I never got hurt until maybe like I was 26 or 27. And like never was tired of it. I always had the other things doing. So for me, it wasn't like solely just focused on athletics.
BEN WATERWORTH: When it comes to your career, you're sort of more of a, I guess, a 200-metre specialist and a 100-metre specialist. At what point do you kind of work that out? Is there a vast difference in kind of, I guess, the... I mean, besides the distance being the obvious factor, one's 100 metres longer, but when you're sort of training for these, do you all of a sudden go, okay, well, I'm actually better at a little bit of longer distance rather than a pure sprint of 100 metres?
BRENDON RODNEY: I think the 200 metres, I kind of just fell into it because I was a taller athlete. So it gave me a little bit more time to accelerate and do make more mistakes and those things. I always say like, personally, to be a great sprinter, like throughout the history of sprints, all the great sprinters can do both of them. So eventually it's gonna come to a point where it's either I'm gonna sit down and say, all right, I'm gonna be great in both, or I'm just gonna be an amazing 200 metre runner, but I won't consider myself a complete sprinter. So my goal personally is to have the full package.
BEN WATERWORTH: Do you have to train differently though? Like, I mean, just for that complete package, is that kind of just into that, that when it comes to training, you don't need to specialise on one over the other. You just need to be able to complete training so that you can be both, good at both.
BRENDON RODNEY: I think with the 100 metres, it's a lot more technical than the 200. So whereas when I'm doing the 200, like we can just basically train and then we can put the little pieces together at the end of the year or when it's time to go race versus the 100 metres now, like this year, we were training more for the 100 metres and we know that we, I can run a good 200 metres. So we had a lot more focus on a lot of the technical aspects, especially me being a taller athlete, to start the first 30 metre acceleration, those things are transitioning into upright running. Upright running is probably the easiest part for everyone, but it's a lot more technical and a lot more focus actually into the different phases of the 100 metre than versus the 200 metre.
BEN WATERWORTH: So that height aspect, that plays actually a real key role in sprinting. I mean, is that more of a positive or a negative?
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, it's what you make it. A lot of people can say, oh, it's a negative because you're so tall, it's gonna be harder for you to start, or you're so tall, you're gonna finish faster than everybody. So it's just what you make it, end up. I mean, a lot of people dwell on their weaknesses and say, oh, I can't, I'm not starting well, or I'm not finishing well. And I've learned that you can get better at your weaknesses, but as long as you continue to keep your strengths up, eventually it's gonna come together how you want.
BEN WATERWORTH: What is a general training week like for you, Brendon? And I mean, besides just hitting a track and running, I mean, are you focusing on leg work at the gym? I mean, I'm guessing every day might be leg day for you. I'm not sure. I mean, kind of what is a general training week like for you?
BRENDON RODNEY: Well, now I train six, well, not now, but like when we're, when the season was actually kicking off and, you know, before COVID, it was six days a week, three days in the gym. You know, and we'd have like three hard days, three not-so-hard days, one really just like a technical aspect day of working on the things that we need to work on and then the two other days or the lighter days. And in the gym, it was just, it's a lot of leg stuff, but we do do some upper body, which is, I guess, the counterbalance, what we do with our legs. So we did have all of that. So the hardest days were always Tuesdays and then Saturdays. And I think like Saturdays was because we weren't going to train Sundays. We was like, oh yeah, you guys, you guys can't go party this weekend. Yeah, so.
BEN WATERWORTH: And I mean, a lot of some sports, when it comes to coaching, like, you know, there would be certain things, say I can imagine swimming, for example, you know, to work on your certain technique, on your strokes, tumble turns, things like that. And I mean, athletics, from someone like me, who is not athletically inclined at all, Brendon, and you know, can barely run, you know, 50 metres, let alone doing, you know, 200 metres in less than 20 seconds. I mean, what sort of techniques can a coach sit down to you and say after watching you? Do they say, okay, your start's not good, we need to work on your start, your running form is not good? I mean, kind of what are the subtleties that a coach will sit down and say, this is where I see you can improve on?
BRENDON RODNEY: Well, all right, I'm gonna just base it off of me. I'm like, when I had first started, my coaches looked at a lot of physical weaknesses. So like strength in the weight room, or like my core strength, or even just flexibility. So those were hampering my running. So we worked on those things, like one year it was all about getting my core stronger and getting me upright running. And then it would be like, all right, we're gonna work on your flexibility, mobility, things like that. And like all of those things would show in the latter part of my races. So in the parts where I was tired, because like everybody looks great when they're not tired. You look amazing. So it was like, okay, when you're tired. So that's kind of how we started to break down the races and started to figure out what my weaknesses and how we could improve me, so like, and then I watched a whole lot of videos. I mean, I remember in 2015, I met Quincy Watts because he was coaching at USC, University of Southern California. And I was like, oh, you know, my first year in college, my coach used to make me watch a whole lot of videos of you. He was like, yeah, well, thanks, you know. I mean, me and him are cool now, but just the fact that he was one of the persons that I used to learn to become a better sprinter. And then he was also telling me that, like, hey, you know, I think you're really good. Like, you know, he was like, all right, you know, I learned a lot from you. And now you're telling me, so it was a, you know, I don't even know. I was like, applaud from like your own teacher. So that like things like that, I think I learned from my coach and that was how I got better.
BEN WATERWORTH: And in terms of diet, I'm always very intrigued to hear athletes from different sports, kind of how diet plays a part into your training regime. Is there specific foods as a sprinter that you're told are better for you or worse for you? Things like that.
BRENDON RODNEY: I'm probably like the worst athlete when it comes to diet. And like it's such a big contradiction because like in my masters, I have a master basically in like nutrition, like exercise, nutrition, stuff like that. So I was like, you know all the right things, but you do all the wrong things. So for me personally, I don't always eat what you're supposed to eat. But like because of sprinting is such a power based event, power would be like, you know, you're going to use a lot of muscle fibres. So protein is always going to be something great for you. You know, and creatine because it replenishes the energy and you use it in the first part of your race because of the explosive work that we do. So like you can eat like from a lot of chicken, chicken breast, fish, eggs, things like that will definitely, you know, they're going to help you with your recovery as well as help with your performance somewhere or another. And a lot of people don't see it that way. Just like eating vegetables and having iron. Iron is, you know, crucial to your energy and all these different great things. Red blood count.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's like one of these things where you're secretly smashing a Big Mac before the race and kind of, you know, all of us non-athletes going, great, I can eat a Big Mac and I can be an Olympic medallist.
BRENDON RODNEY: Well, firstly, if I'm eating McDonald's, it's going to be like chicken nuggets.
BEN WATERWORTH: Right, right. Of course.
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, I used to do it a lot in college. Like, and I think a lot of it was because I have a lot of food allergies. So I would just eat something that I know instead of, you know, trying to go with a healthy alternative. And then I go to get like a healthy salad and it has peanuts in it. And I eat peanuts and I'm allergic to it, you know. So I can go to McDonald's and I know if I buy fries and chicken nuggets and a drink, soda, I'm good. You know, so I think that was one of my reasons for eating so poorly.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, isn't that all you eat in the Olympic Village? Just you just constantly getting McDonald's, right?
BRENDON RODNEY: Yeah, I mean, I didn't eat any until I finished running, but people just eat throughout the time. But like I, by then I was like about four or five years like into being serious, more serious athlete, so I could understand like, hey, all right, if they have rice or if they have mashed potatoes, I can try to eat those things and try to get like some chicken. So it's a little bit healthier than going to McDonald's, but I kind of understand that this is going to play a major role later down the road.
BEN WATERWORTH: When you eventually sort of throughout your career, I mean, you started off representing Canada, of course, University Games, Commonwealth Games in 2014. When you started sort of wearing the red and white going to international events like this, I mean, how does that feel as somebody as your lifelong ambition was to become a professional athlete? And there you are kind of standing in these big events representing your country. I mean, that must be a pretty proud moment for you.
BRENDON RODNEY: Yeah, always like people always ask me like, what's my favourite place to travel? And I always say Russia. I'm like, why? I was like my first time ever going like overseas and like the first time for me to go overseas somewhere like in Europe. I went to Russia and I was representing Canada. So like that was a major thing. So maybe it might not be the greatest place I went. But just because of that memory that, you know, the fact that I was able to travel so far for it to represent my country, you know, is always going to be something that will be a memory that I cherish.
BEN WATERWORTH: And when you start getting to these events and you start sort of, you know, performing well enough to be able to represent Canada, did the Olympics all of a sudden become a more stronger goal for you at that point?
BRENDON RODNEY: I remember like, I think every, I think I have an answer for this for like in three different ways. In 2008, I think this is when I really started to love track. I was in Jamaica at the time, and I was at the National Stadium, and I was watching their Olympic trials, Olympic qualifiers for Beijing Olympics at the time. And I remember watching Asafo Pod and Usain Bolt, and the crowd going crazy and cheering for them. I was like, this is something that I want. Like, I would love this feeling. Like, I remember the feeling of just being in the stands. And then I remember sleeping in front of the TV, 2008, watching like every race, because, you know, 12-hour time different from Toronto. And then I remember 2012, where now these guys that I was competing with are actually at the Olympics. So I was like, oh, wow. I mean, like, they're better than me, but it's definitely a possibility for me now. And then each year, I realised I was getting closer to these guys or beating them now or beating some guys that used to beat me. And I was like, okay, 2016, gotta be. I know I should go to the Olympics now. So that was kind of like my progression of me being an Olympian, from just watching as a spectator, like, with no aspirations to go into the Olympics, to see my friends there, to actually saying, you know, I'm going to be there. Fantastic.
BEN WATERWORTH: How close were you to making the team in 2012?
BRENDON RODNEY: Not at all. Nowhere near. Right. The fact is, like, I remember Tremaine here, as me and him went to school together, Aaron Brown, I always competed against, you know, Crystal Emmanuel, like, we're good friends. All of these people were at the Olympics that time. So it was like, OK, these guys are my age, where we're either competing against each other or, like, good friends. And I'm like, OK, you know, definitely a possibility. And like, they probably wouldn't have believed it was a possibility, but, like, in my head, I was like, yeah, it's a possibility. And then each year, I seen the progressions, and it was like I was closing the gaps faster and faster than they were expecting me.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which, it's a unique sport, sprinting, in the fact that you can spend most of the year, no doubt, competing against these guys, and all of a sudden, you put on a team together to compete together in a relay. So when they come back from London, do you have that conversation, kind of, get sort of the experiences about the Olympics from them? Because they're kind of your competitors for most of the year, you kind of, they're not going to give it up to you.
BRENDON RODNEY: Um, I never asked, I didn't, I have never, I've yet to have a conversation about London experience with the persons who ran on the relay. I've talked with Aaron and some of my young, my other team is like Akim, Akim was there. And I think Akim, what gave me the most insight, and his insight was just like, why some person stopped doing track and field after, and you know, because I guess like Olympics is the highest level for I guess for track and field.
BEN WATERWORTH: So that improvement then, that you sort of you say you're not close to making 2012, but in that period then you're really pushing towards Rio. So is it just, what was it that kind of got you to that level where eventually you did make the Olympic team?
BRENDON RODNEY: I think one of the biggest factors was my coach at the time. Somebody like my best friend, and he took the time to understand my weaknesses, and not only physically but mentally. So I mean, I went to school, and like if you follow the NCAA, you know that track and field NCAA isn't easy to make, especially indoors, because it's only the top 16 best in the country at the time for indoors. So it's actually really hard. And I made it my first year, and it was like, okay, you know, like you're competing against some of the best in the world, because I guess if you win NCAAs, you're basically one of the top five, top ten athletes in the world for that year. So those little things gave me motivation in order to get better. And he just told me like, don't limit yourself and stop using the word can't. That was a big thing for us. And we get punished for it because he's like, most things that you think you can't do, it's something that you're able to do. It's just that either you're like tired or you don't believe in yourself or something like that. So I think those are things that pushed me to being better as an athlete in the four years, five years that I was with him.
BEN WATERWORTH: And it's sort of really entering a bit of a golden period for Canadian sprinting as well, kind of with some of the success that is going to come sort of in the latter half of the 2010s. And do you think that all comes down to the coaching? Is there more to it that maybe the Canadian sports people are putting more money into sprinting? Kind of what do you think that happened with that?
BRENDON RODNEY: The athletes. The later parts in the 2000s or 2010s, actually started in 2012, let's say that, 2012 moving forward. It was a lot of the older athletes that were continuously making. So like, I think we are slightly going to go through that period again. Coming into the 2020s and moving forward, we're going to start having a lot of older athletes make the team. And we had, at 2012, we had a lot of young, hungry athletes and guys that just competed and just didn't care about who's been there, done that already. And I think that kind of pushed the older guys to get better. The younger guys kept getting better as well. And I think that's kind of where we got that little resurgence of Canadian sprinting again. 2014, I think, was the year when that kind of came into play because Andre Degrasse kind of came on the scene. Me, Andre, Aaron, went to Commonwealth. I don't know if I came there that year, actually. But that was kind of the starting of that resurgence of Canadian sprinting. Well, 2012, of course, they medalled. 2013, they medalled. But it was still with the older squad. And then the young guys started to come in. And I think that was the time that we seemed like, okay, we can do it. And we just competed against each other. We were friends, but you never want to lose to your friend. So I think that was a real big thing. I mean, I don't know a lot of the older guys personally, but they were content being the best in Canada, and we aren't. Because at the time, Canada wasn't one of the best countries. So if you're the best in Canada, it doesn't mean anything. Well, now it means a lot, because we got guys running sub-20s, sub-10. We have world contenders now.
BEN WATERWORTH: That incident at the Pan Ams in 2015, obviously winning the gold and then kind of getting disqualified, I can imagine, as disappointing as that is, that must give an extra drive to all of you guys to realise, well, we're good enough to win a gold against some of the best in the world at the Pan Ams. We can do this. We can back this up next year. And you're obviously so disappointed after losing that that must push you to kind of make sure that doesn't happen again and kind of push you guys to keep going for a year later at Rio.
BRENDON RODNEY: Well, you know that we actually went to the World Championships after Pan Ams that year, and we got bronze. So I think that was a motivation. And being at the World Championship, I think for me, that was, no, me and Andre, that was both our first World Championships. So we went and, you know, we enjoyed it, but we went out there saying like, hey, let's compete, and that's just it. And, you know, you use the experience and you move forward and you get better. And I think that experience, Andre medalled, you know, I mean, we medalled as a relay team. I came back with a TV. All right, you know, now let's get prepared for the next year. And I think that was really what happened. We just all came in with a mindset that we're going to prepare for the next year, and we're going to, the Canadian Nationals is going to be a show, basically. And I think that's where 2015 Beijing was like the year or the time that everybody kind of put it together and got back together really fast.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, it's so fascinating as a spectator to watch the relays and kind of see it when a team gets disqualified. And obviously, we'll talk about shortly about Rio because it kind of worked in your favour rather than against you like it did at the Pan Ams. But how often are you guys working on those changeovers and like how is that visually when you're sprinting kind of keeping an eye or mentally sort of knowing about the lines and things like that? Because it's just, it's milliseconds, isn't it? That kind of cost you guys in those events.
BRENDON RODNEY: Yeah, well, I mean, well, we used to practise a lot. And it worked, you know, but as we get older, as we become professionals, we all have different obligations now. So I think it's hard to say we're going to practise three, four times a year, two weeks each time when everybody has their own obligation as professional athletes and as young men, young women with their own lives and families. So the practising definitely helps. And I think the more you practise, the better it is. But also, I think there's a negative to practising a lot because you also, you know that you can make, you've made mistakes in practice, and even though you make those mistakes, you get complacent because you're like, oh, I know Andre is going to get it to me. And I mean, it's happened to me and Andre all the time. Me and Andre, I think, made the most mistakes, and yet we have some of the best classes with each other. And other people may not see mistakes, but we know that we're making mistakes, and we laugh about it after. So, practice is key. It is obviously key.
BEN WATERWORTH: And with the relay teams themselves, I mean, some of them are only decided kind of the day of, the day beforehand, right? Like then, how far in advance are they decided that who's going to be running the relays?
BRENDON RODNEY: Well, you know who's on the team. So if you have six guys, you know that those six guys are on the team, maybe like a few months, few weeks in advance, depending on the competition and when the selection is made. But who's running? Who's running can change up to like two hours before you compete. So that's why practice is important in my eyes, because like at the end of the day, you don't know what's going to happen on the day of. So practice definitely puts people in a position that they can be successful, and they're able to know, all right, so if Brendon isn't running, I know that I'm going to put him in that position, and I know that Anjay is going to be comfortable with getting this baton from me, or Aaron's going to be comfortable, because we've practised together already. So I think that is why practice is important. And then there's the times like where me, Anjay, and Aaron who've been running together now for like four or five years. It's been a while actually. I didn't realise. Six years. So through 2014, we would be our first team with all three of us. So six years together. Whereas like we might not have to practise as much, because now we kind of have that cohesiveness. I can say, all right, Anjay, I'm not feeling so good today. Give me this one. Or I'm feeling really good. Give me this one. All right, I got you. It kind of works that way.
BEN WATERWORTH: And is there also the position of like which leg you run? I mean, you know, does it say you're a better third runner and Andre is a better fourth runner? Do you kind of change it up or kind of is there a tactic to who runs in what position?
BRENDON RODNEY: The coach really kind of made that decision. We don't get to make it. I mean, I know that I'm kind of stuck in the fourth. I'm in the third leg now, but I don't mind. But whereas 2015, Andre ran back to the second leg. Fanhams, he ran second leg. And Beijing, the World Championship, he ran. And then the next year, we switched it because he was going to run two events. So we were trying to limit the amount of practice that he had to do in order for him to focus on his event.
BEN WATERWORTH: You want that glory though, running the fourth one, right? So when you cross the line and you win that medal, you know you're the one there celebrating the cameras are flashing on you, right?
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, I think, you know, we all have like... Yeah, we all want the glory. But at the same time, we all understand, like, we do our part. You know, if we all do our part, then we do what we're supposed to do. We're all going to get the glory eventually. Yeah, like we all have to come across the line and get to the cameras and all those things.
BEN WATERWORTH: National Championships 2016, you break the national record, you run under 20 seconds, you're going to Rio. Obviously, an emotional time for you too. Obviously, your mother had been sick as well. So, I mean, everything kind of came together at that point. You still have on your Twitter, your pin tweet is that moment you were successful in qualifying for those Olympics. So, I mean, clearly that was a huge moment for you with everything that just happened in those moments for you to get a ticket to Rio. Yeah.
BRENDON RODNEY: Well, I mean, of course, I think Rio was the goal for that year. Like I said, after 2015, it was all eyes were set on the Olympics. Going to the Olympics, meddling at the Olympics, that was just the plan. To make it is one thing, but to go there and medal is the next thing. The national championships proved to me and to others that not only is there Andre in Canada, but there's also me, there's Aaron, and all of us can all run at high levels. We can all be medal contenders on any of them. So that race or those races were just proving something that I believed in. Like I said, in 2012 or 2013, a lot of persons wouldn't have believed that it would happen three or four years later.
BEN WATERWORTH: And as sprinters, obviously with 100 metres, the goal is to run a sub 10, 100 metres. For a 200 runner, it's to run under 20. You did that. I mean, how much are you constantly thinking about beating that time? How much does that weigh on a sprinter to beat the magical 10 or 20 mark?
BRENDON RODNEY: It's definitely like the pinnacle. That means you know now you are in the top of the top in the world. You're somebody who can compete with the likes of Usain Bolt. You want to say that. You want to be able to say, all right, if I'm running 19.8 and Usain Bolt has a super bad day, I probably can beat him. It's just things like that. But it's just a barrier, and I think that it just means it shows to you that your work isn't done in vain.
BEN WATERWORTH: And in the 200 at Rio, you ultimately unfortunately didn't make it out of the heat stage, finished 25th overall. Andre went on to win the silver. Now, you beat Andre at those national championships. Is it a bittersweet feeling to kind of... I mean, he's your teammate. You're no doubt happy he's won a silver medal, but at the same time, you're thinking, I beat this dude a couple of months ago. That could have been me.
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, of course you think that, but like I said, I'm always happy for my teammates. In 2015, I was the first person to jump for a joy-winning medal, and I'll always be happy for him. So it's not for me. I won't say it could have been me. I would have loved for it to be me and him, you know, medal in. But it is what it is, and we all learn from it. And it was one of the fastest years ever, first round. So, I mean, if it was any other year, I would have made it through. And you know what? I got another day for it. Can't dwell on it. I mean, I'm happy for him still. And I know that, yeah, of course, I think I could have been there. And on that day, I mean, it was a... The finals day wasn't a good sprinting day, but I think they all were really exhausted.
BEN WATERWORTH: Is there much sledging, like trash talk, going on when you're on the blocks? Are there certain athletes that kind of might give you a bit of a, hey, Brendon, you're going to trip, mate, you suck. I mean, is there that going on?
BRENDON RODNEY: No, I don't think it goes on anymore. It hasn't really happened since I've been there. But I mean, in practice and with people that I'm cool with, every day.
BEN WATERWORTH: Who are some of the ones that you want to name drop anybody? Like, these are particular serial pests when it comes to it.
BRENDON RODNEY: You know, I mean, when I was in college, we all used to do it. But like, a lot of people don't really like it. But I do the most of it now.
BEN WATERWORTH: What do you say? What's kind of your go-to? Do you just like, oh, mate, you go for the, you know, Knicks, the Knicks suck or something like that? Like, you just, you know, get on a personal level or kind of where do you go with it?
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, like, we'll go and practise and like, we'll do blocks. And I'll win the first one. I'm like, oh, you're not getting none today. You, you, you, I don't know, you might as well pack it up. I like, that would be me. And there'll be days that I can't win any. And they'd be like, oh, so you're not talking today. They get me back when sometimes then, you know, I'll have bad days and I'll have good days. Even on some bad days, I'll be trash talking. Definitely. But I'm the one that usually starts it. I always started it because it just like, especially since we've had COVID, we haven't had any track meets. So it's just something to keep us, you know, going and motivated. And a lot of guys, like when they, when I'm, like we might separate ourselves and we're not training together, you can see that they're not giving the effort. And then when I come and I'm like in the air, it's like, okay.
BEN WATERWORTH: Bit of pump up. Helping them out. There, Brendon.
BRENDON RODNEY: There's some days like we'll go and we'll do blocks and like we could drop a pin in here everybody because they know like it's just so tense. And then we'll be done as soon as we're done in training, we'll be like, oh, you know what, I'm 3-1 on you, or 3-0, but like no one was talking, no one was practising, we were like, oh, so what's going on? But it's just how it is.
BEN WATERWORTH: With the relay itself, ultimately you finish fourth, but of course US gets disqualified, you end up with the medal. What are those moments like waiting when you're kind of, you're hearing whispers or seeing that the US are disqualified and all of a sudden you realise you might be walking away with a medal here?
BRENDON RODNEY: It was kind of like, we were surprised and we were like, oh, we don't play around kind of thing. But it was cool. Like, I can't say the moments were like heart wrenching. We were just like, all right, we broke the national record, tried our best. There's a picture of me like, I think I was shaking someone's hand looking up at the screen like, damn, what more could we have done? Like, we run the fastest any other Canadians running. Like, if this was 96, we would have won. Because 96 won, and they had the national record. It's just one of those things. Like, any other Olympic year, we would have been in the top two, top three, all like, hands down. So, yeah, like, shit.
BEN WATERWORTH: I mean, it kind of, I guess, it kind of adds to that moment. Like, you're kind of like, well, what could we have done? And all of a sudden, I said, well, at the end of the day, we still walk away with the medal now, too. So, it kind of adds a little bit of icing on the cake.
BRENDON RODNEY: We're excited, ecstatic, but at the same time, we're like, don't play with us, because we're ready. Fourth is the worst position you can finish. You're like, right in the middle, you just almost got a medal, and you almost came fifth. It was better we came fifth, but at least we would have had no chance. Now we're like, right, like, a pin drop away. And like, we ran fast, and we said, me and Andre always make mistakes. So if anybody was to watch that race, they would have been like, oh, it was great, but me and Andre made a mistake, and Andre knows, but I know, but other people don't.
BEN WATERWORTH: And that's one of those things that I guess, you know, if you had stayed in fourth, would weigh on the mind, wouldn't it? They're like, oh, if we didn't do this, then where would have we been?
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, like I couldn't, I wouldn't have said anything because I know that Andre is coming from six races, you know, two medals at the Olympics, six races. He just, he still gave his best. Like if you watch him run, you, shit, amazing. But we made a mistake. And at the end of the day, I couldn't say like, damn, Dre, you messed up. He could have been like, he could have probably said it to me because I didn't run as much races, but I was like, I wouldn't have done it because at the end of the day, I know what he's been doing and I understand like, he's got to be tired.
BEN WATERWORTH: And what's that experience like then sharing a podium at the Olympic Games with a sane bolt? I mean, that, like the most decorated, you know, sprinter in the history of ever basically, and there he is standing next to you on an Olympic podium. That must be a pretty special moment.
BRENDON RODNEY: Yeah, I mean, if anybody knows, and you're saying he's a cool guy, like both is really cool. He's a person that's gonna talk to you. He's gonna make you laugh. So he's always gonna make the moment so much more fun, you know? So you gotta thank him for that, and you know, you gotta be happy that you're able to celebrate those kind of moments with a person that, you know, is gonna always be on your side or, you know, try to bring you up when you're down and things like that.
BEN WATERWORTH: And when you leave Rio with a medal around your neck, come back home, you know, Canada obviously had a fantastic games in Rio. I mean, what was that whole experience like now? You're an Olympian, you're an Olympic medallist. I mean, does that change you in any way, or do you just kind of go about things and you just got a nice piece of bling around the neck now?
BRENDON RODNEY: It doesn't change me, but it definitely changes like what I'm trying to do. We try to capitalize on the market. We try to get sponsors and try to make as much money as we can and enjoy it as much as we can, because at the end of the day, it's every four years. So if in four years' time we reach the Olympics and it doesn't happen again, and you didn't capitalize or you didn't make the best of the four years ago, well, damn, you're either going to wait four years and try to make it happen again, and you don't get any younger. So it just gets a little bit harder each time. So, I mean, it's a great experience, you know. People will start to know you a little bit more, you know, and you have to enjoy it. It's a lot harder for us, I think. Well, Andre is always in and out of Canada, but I think me, Aaron, Akeem, a little bit harder. It was a little bit harder because we're training still abroad, and, you know, so we wouldn't be in Canada as much as we would like to be. I mean, we took advantage of what we could have and what we couldn't.
BEN WATERWORTH: The two things I always love to find out from Olympic medallist Brendon is, one, where do you keep your medal? What have you done with your medal since you won it?
BRENDON RODNEY: It's at home. It's in Canada, in my house, in my room.
BEN WATERWORTH: Right, so you don't put it on display or anything? Is it kind of just in your sock drawer? I'm not trying to get it stolen. I'm just, you know, is it like a pride of place at the Brendon Rodney house?
BRENDON RODNEY: I will. I have my Olympic uniform from Rio framed. So eventually, I'm going to put the medal and the uniform in the same frame.
BEN WATERWORTH: Nice.
BRENDON RODNEY: I have it, yeah. But right now, my box actually broke, and then our medals were like tarnishing, so they made us send them back, and then they sent us back.
BEN WATERWORTH: Interesting. And the other one, I'll tell you, and I hear some funny stories of this, do you ever try and get free stuff with it? Do you kind of walk into a shop with an Olympic medallist? I would love a free box of chicken McNuggets.
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, I've seen it work. And if I was to... I mean, I'm not that type of person. So I guess when we were coming back from Rio, I probably could have put my medal on and got upgraded to first class and stuff like that. I mean, I don't use it to get free stuff.
BEN WATERWORTH: You should try it. You should try it, Brendon. Come on.
BRENDON RODNEY: I do use it to get free stuff. Like I would say, oh, I'm an Olympic medallist. You know, couldn't you sponsor me and give me free stuff that way? But I won't put it on and walk into the store and say, hey, I got an Olympic medal.
BEN WATERWORTH: It'll work. I'm telling you, it will work. Where, you know, I'm thinking some good things to that. With now the situation, of course, COVID, with the games being delayed and everything like that. What was your viewpoint on kind of the delay, first of all? I mean, were you sort of hanging out for it being delayed? I mean, kind of what was that process like before they officially announced they were being delayed for you?
BRENDON RODNEY: OK, well, Canada was the first to say that they are not going. So that was like the most gut wrenching thing they could have ever done. If the games did actually happen, we wouldn't have been there. So I think they should have waited. But at the same time, you have to be a trailblazer and, you know, set the trend. And I guess that was kind of what pushed them to say that they're not going to happen. So I wasn't one of those waiting to hear that it was going to be delayed. I was still preparing like it was going to happen.
BEN WATERWORTH: And how has that been then since the cancellation and lockdown and everything along those lines? I mean, obviously affects your training, but I mean, how badly does it affect your training?
BRENDON RODNEY: Well, it hasn't affected us or my training that badly. When we had a lockdown, yeah, I wasn't able to train every day, but I was still able to train like three or four times a week. So that was the good part about it. And I can't really complain. I think I got a little bit more rest, and I was able to stay healthy. So that was a good thing about it.
BEN WATERWORTH: And how are you feeling you are right now, mentally, physically kind of going into another Olympics compared to where you were four years ago?
BRENDON RODNEY: Wow. If it was March of this year or February of this year, I would have said that I'm in that shape that I was in 2016 or better. Now, we don't know. No one really is going to know until they come back, and it's just part of the game, I think. We'll try to get some races in before we go on break this year, and then we'll just restart and just go for the best. It's like anything. Nothing is given. You can work 10 times harder and be slower, and you can work less and be faster. It's just one of those things that you never know until the day of or the days.
BEN WATERWORTH: And had the selections been done already, or had you not had the trials yet?
BRENDON RODNEY: No, our trials would have been, I think, a week or two weeks that just passed, so we wouldn't have had them. So we'll have selections again next year around the same time. Yeah, June. In July now, so June.
BEN WATERWORTH: And were there some of your team members that maybe were injured or something like that? That's obviously, you know, beneficial for them. I mean, does that give you an opportunity for some other of these guys who are maybe on the fringe to kind of train a little bit harder and maybe grab a spot for next year?
BRENDON RODNEY: It definitely does. And it also, you know, the people that were maybe guaranteed or thought they had a chance, you know, now they may not have a chance, you know. So a lot of people who are older, so like if you're 33 and like, okay, you would think this is your last chance, you're going to be 34 next year, so now it's a lot harder. So it has its pros and cons for everybody. And, you know, like I said, you've got to just do what the best that you can do. And if it does happen, it happens. And if it doesn't, then, you know, at least you can say you gave it your best. And the only thing you can be mad at is that there was a virus last year, and you were probably in better shape.
BEN WATERWORTH: And do you set yourself personal goals, Brendon? Like, do you say to yourself, okay, I want to make the finals of the 200 metres. I want to get a silver this time in the relay. Do you set yourself goals like that?
BRENDON RODNEY: Yeah, of course. I mean, I think if I don't set myself goals, like right now, I have goals, but it's like, what can I achieve? There's nothing keeping. So it lessens the motivation to go to training. So I think that the goals keep you motivated. As long as, you know, you have those and you have things that you can work towards, it's definitely going to get you back to where you want to be. And that's, like right now, I'm in training and I was like, sometimes I go in the gym. I mean, I had goals of what I wanted to achieve, and I think I have achieved most of them. But now it's like, I can't even get half of that now. Because it's like the motivation isn't there. But, you know, we try, well, I try my best to try to keep close to that. You know, we're in our best ways before all this happened. But I know that a lot of things are changing. Like, for example, power cleans. I mean, I can power cleanse a whole lot. And before COVID, I was. But now my technique is off because I'm not squatting as much, or I'm not focusing on my technique. So when my technique is off, I'm not going to be able to lift as heavy. So it's just like a little pyramid effect, you know, comes down the ladder. So, you know, it's just those little things that you kind of have to remember to focus on and to keep yourself healthy and keep yourself in that range of being where you want to be.
BEN WATERWORTH: And it's also mentally too, not just physically as well, right? I'm sure it's a kind of, you know, getting your mindset in that competition zone as well.
BRENDON RODNEY: Mentally, like I said, the motivation is what kills you right now. Right now is what's killing you. Knowing that you have an Olympics coming up again, it's just like, you're going to, the motivation is going to come right back. As soon as, like, September comes around, you're going to see everybody posting pictures, videos, training hard, you know, so it will come back right, right back around. So it's just part of track and field. It's just like a year where you don't have a championship. So what would be a Commonwealth of the Year for us? I mean, Americans and some other countries don't have anything, so I guess the motivation is to go through the motions to see what happens.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's very fascinating and it's kind of particularly, as you're saying, that's an interesting point, sort of how 2018, 2014, 2022, you guys will have a Commonwealth Games, as will a bunch of other countries, but some don't. How are the Commonwealth Games viewed? I know it's kind of slightly off-topic, but as an Australian, we take them quite seriously, you guys take them quite seriously, but as an athlete, like in a sport like athletics, are Commonwealth Games one of these major meets you kind of aim for, or is it kind of one of the sort of second-level ones that you can go if you can go, but it's not a major one you sort of focus on?
BRENDON RODNEY: A lot of people don't go because they're kept at weird times of the year, like last one was in April, and then 2010 was in October, so it's just one of those things that a lot of people try not to go to. If you've been running a lot and you've been getting hurt, you use it as a recovery year to get healthy. When I was young, 2013, 2014, I was like, I got to go, because I only made one team, I got to make more teams, so my coach was like, just rest, just rest. You're going to have a hard three, four years coming. I probably shouldn't have listened. Oh well, I win.
BEN WATERWORTH: You got to go. You got to go to Scotland, come on. You know, that was a trip.
BRENDON RODNEY: Yeah, exactly. It was just a trip. But everybody looks at it differently, and it's just your approach on it. I mean, a lot of people say, you know, because it's the off year, they can go and they could be a little bit more relaxed and have a little bit more fun. Some people say, okay, you know, this is going to boost my career, so I got to go in order to get the jumps back for the next year.
BEN WATERWORTH: Now, I was going through your social feeds, Brendon, and I saw a picture of you on the Gold Coast back in 2018. But did you compete in the Gold Coast, or were you just there to support?
BRENDON RODNEY: I was there to compete, and I got that. It was the first time I've ever gotten hurt. Got hurt in the training camp while we were there. So I went, and I just wasn't able to compete. I kind of got a trip to Australia where I could see Australia. But at the end of the time, it was bittersweet, because I don't like going to track meets just to watch, although I always complain, like, hey, when am I going to get to watch? You know, so...
BEN WATERWORTH: It's when you're there and you start watching, you realise, hey, this is no fun. Who wants to watch these?
BRENDON RODNEY: Like, yeah, you want to compete, but I mean, I took it and I enjoyed, I think it was a learning experience, you know. And I came back in the next, I mean, I compete, I ended up competing later in the year, and, you know, I got back healthy. And I think that break was probably the break that I should have taken in 2014, when I didn't listen. So that was, you know, it was a good little two-month break, I guess.
BEN WATERWORTH: You got to hang out with some kangaroos. I mean, that pitch is great on your Instagram.
BRENDON RODNEY: I was there for one month, I think, or so, five weeks, a month and a little bit. And then I was still hurt. So that was the bad part. But I mean, I had to rehab and get back together.
BEN WATERWORTH: So, it was cool. It was, you know, the positives come out of that. Brendon, we like to, with our guests on this show, have a bit of a fun little ending with sort of a questionnaire. And I think I mentioned to you off air that this was something that the Team Canada Olympic page actually did in the lead up to Rio, where they selected... Did you do this?
BRENDON RODNEY: Probably. I'm not 100% sure, but I remember doing some interviews and some stuff before going.
BEN WATERWORTH: Because I couldn't find yours. So, I mean, if they did interview, they might not have published it, or maybe my research skills aren't that good. Because I tried to see if you had done one of these, so I didn't have to double up on this. But, Bargaret, we can do it again. You might have changed your opinion in four years, right? So, these are essentially just some fun little quirky questions to find a little bit more about you. So, the first question here, who to you is the greatest Olympian of all time?
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, some people might say Rowan, some people might say Usain Bolt. It's one of them.
BEN WATERWORTH: One of them? The first Olympics you remember watching, you kind of answered this before, I think. Was it 2008? Do you have any memories watching the Olympics before 2008?
BRENDON RODNEY: No, but I mean, I'm pretty sure I watched them, but I don't have any memory. Like, in my brain box, nothing.
BEN WATERWORTH: Nothing coming there. If you could be any superhero, who would you be? Not the Flash? The Flash? I think the Sprinters would go for Flash, but no, Batman's everyone. Always be Batman when you can be Batman.
BRENDON RODNEY: Definitely Batman.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, of course. Yeah, well, exactly. That's the whole key of being Batman. That's the only reason, right? They want the Batmobile. What is your favourite flavour of ice cream? See, I always am happy when people answer vanilla, because I'm a vanilla man, and people think vanilla is boring, but vanilla is a great flavour of ice cream. Yeah. And vanilla bean, when it's kind of even more vanilla-y, like, oh, really good. If you were a baseball... Well, this actually... I think you can relate this to sprinting, because you guys generally sort of have the headphones going on, don't you? So, I mean, this question says, if I were a baseball player, my walk-up music would be. But, I mean, you've got walk-up music, don't you, as you walk up to the blocks, right?
BRENDON RODNEY: No, we don't, because, like, in track and field, it's not like swimming. So, swimming, you can wear your headphones up to the blocks. Whereas in track and field, once you go into the call room, you have to have no electronics. So, we... Walk-up music, I don't know. I don't know.
BEN WATERWORTH: Lots of tunes to get out there, to get yourself pumped up and motivated.
BRENDON RODNEY: It would...
BEN WATERWORTH: You're going to be thinking about these next time, aren't you? You're going to be there. Now, I read what your nickname is. But so, this question is the best nickname I've ever been called. Now, I don't know. So, your nickname is Bucky, is that correct? So, where does Bucky come from? Right. So, that's one of those nicknames which maybe doesn't have a great background, but you kind of stick to it.
BRENDON RODNEY: I mean, you know, it's... I couldn't fight it. Stop fighting and just say, I'm going to fight everybody now. It's just something you just, you know, you just take on, and, you know, I just live with it. I don't mind, honestly.
BEN WATERWORTH: Do you have any other nicknames that maybe don't come from a physical appearance at all?
BRENDON RODNEY: Um, not like a bingo. Not any nicknames that, like, a vast majority of people call me, other than that.
BEN WATERWORTH: Batman. We'll start Batman, Brendon. We need to start calling you Batman. I like it. And when they eventually do, like, the swimming style thing where you have the walk-up music, we can play, like, the Batman theme or something like that. I don't know. Get you really pumped up. If there was a movie made about you, what actor would play you? Which actor would play you?
BRENDON RODNEY: See, like, I want to say Jason Statham, because he's my favourite actor. But, like, it kind of doesn't work. But that's my favourite actor.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, go for Jason Statham. I'm sure, I'm sure, you know, there could be some sort of technicality we can work out there. If you weren't an athlete, what would you be?
BRENDON RODNEY: What would I be if I wasn't an athlete? Probably like a physiotherapist or a businessman.
BEN WATERWORTH: You could do all three. I could see you being athlete, physiotherapist, businessman. You know, there's scope there somewhere.
BRENDON RODNEY: It's definitely doable. I've seen people do things like that. Like there's lawyers that are athletes and stuff like that. And then if you're a player and you have your own practice, then you're kind of a businessman, woman, person.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, it's all there. It's all can happen. What is your guilty pleasure snack?
BRENDON RODNEY: You know, honestly, I don't eat a lot of snacks. As much as like I say I eat bad, I don't eat a lot of snacks. So I don't really have, it would have to be ice cream.
BEN WATERWORTH: That's a good snack to have. I was going to say, when you mentioned the nuggets before, I've had nuggets in a long time. But now I've got to be honest with you, Brendon. I've been thinking about nuggets a lot in this interview.
BRENDON RODNEY: I honestly haven't had them in a long time. Probably not since like last year. But I do eat a lot of KFC now. Yeah, like weeks.
BEN WATERWORTH: Just not that you're going to be getting the nuggets. Or you can basically maybe with the whole idea of, you know, pushing yourself towards a goal, say, when I win Olympic gold in Tokyo, I will celebrate with nuggets. Just you go up to them with that gold medal and go, OK, I know these are free. I know I'm getting them, but I want all of them. You're cooking me nuggets for 24 hours. I want a gold medal, damn it. I'm sure they'd listen. What are your favourite song lyrics? I always find this a tricky question, because it's not like what's your favourite song. Lyrics are very specific. Unless you straight away know I'm motivated by this song and these lyrics, this is a very, like, this is one you need to think about a little bit more, I feel.
BRENDON RODNEY: It's one of those questions that, like, they got to prepare you for this question. Like, OK, you know what? Listen to some lyrics and tell me which one of these are your favourite. Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah. We might need to change that. Tweet that one moving forward.
BRENDON RODNEY: I honestly don't know. And it would have to probably come from your favourite song, and I don't really have a favourite song right now.
BEN WATERWORTH: We'll tweet that moving forward. What is the most recent TV show that you binge watched?
BRENDON RODNEY: Watching, I think it's called Bad Blood. I'm watching it right now on Netflix.
BEN WATERWORTH: Right.
BRENDON RODNEY: So that's the most recent. And it's something about Montreal and drugs. And I was like, I never knew about this, but this ain't based on a true story. So I'm learning something about Canada that I didn't know.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, there you go. Well, check it out. I wasn't aware of that either. So they were learning new things here. Where is your favourite place in the world to compete?
BRENDON RODNEY: I want to say Canada. And because we get to compete against ours, first of all, each other, and then we get to compete in front of our friends and family. That's probably why that would be my favourite place to compete, other than maybe China.
BEN WATERWORTH: Okay, interesting. It's actually, you know, touching back a little bit to what I was saying about the Commonwealth Games, about how they're kind of treated. Hamilton are in the running, it seems, to get the 2026 Commonwealth Games. I mean, if they end up getting it, is that something that pushes you towards maybe home Commonwealth Games, or you just don't think about that sort of stuff too far in the future? Too far. Tokyo's on the mind.
BRENDON RODNEY: I think the best home games that I've been to was 2050. But 2015 made the home games, you know, so much sound, so much better. So, I mean, I would love for them to get it. I mean, I'll probably be in the stands watching. You know, but, yeah, 2026. We're in 2020, 28, that's six years, 34. Maybe, who knows?
BEN WATERWORTH: Never say never.
BRENDON RODNEY: Yeah, at all, actually. I thought I would be older, but it's not that.
BEN WATERWORTH: No, you're young. You're way young. Come on. You'll be gold medallist. You're here first on Off The Podium. Brendon Rodney, gold medallist, 2026 Commonwealth Games. Now, another thing I wrote about you is that you are an avid video gamer, so I'm interested on this question. What is your favourite video game?
BRENDON RODNEY: My favourite video game? I don't know. I'll say NBA 2K because it comes out every year, and we're able to play in new ones, or FIFA, like something that has a new one. But I do like Call of Duty. And I don't like Fortnite at all. But they have something that's similar to the Fortnite system.
BEN WATERWORTH: I do. Yeah, I do. I'm not a Fortnite person. Don't worry. You're not offending me. I've never gotten into it.
BRENDON RODNEY: Have you ever played Fortnite?
BEN WATERWORTH: No. Never touched it. I heard about it, and then I'm like, that sounds weird, so I never even touched it.
BRENDON RODNEY: Call of Duty has its Warzone, and Warzone is kind of based off the Fortnite kind of scheme, where it's like a community playing in one big area, and then it gets smaller. So that's cool, because it has a Call of Duty like aspect to it. Right.
BEN WATERWORTH: Interesting. With NBA, I'm guessing you're quite excited for August 1st, for it to resume. Doesn't make sense. You're not excited.
BRENDON RODNEY: I don't think it makes any sense, because the fact is NBA would have been done already. And for them to go back and try to finish the season, what happens in October now? Yeah, true. They play for a month and a half, six weeks, that goes to September, and then they only have four weeks to get ready for October. It's kind of the feast of purpose, and then it's like you're going to put athletes at risk to get hurt, and then the next season is going to be in worse shape, because I'm not really a fan of it personally.
BEN WATERWORTH: I think with the NHL, they were talking about starting the new season in December. I don't know if that's what they were doing with the NBA, given the turnaround. Who's your team in the NBA?
BRENDON RODNEY: I watch players and watch things that people do.
BEN WATERWORTH: Hard not to get caught up in the Raptors after the last 12 or so months, I've been a Raptors fan since they first started. But I'm a Raptors and a Bulls man, because growing up in the 90s, you couldn't avoid the Bulls. But living in Canada, I could imagine during last year, would have been something else to experience all that. What is your biggest fear in life?
BRENDON RODNEY: Biggest fear?
BEN WATERWORTH: Your biggest fear?
BRENDON RODNEY: I don't know anymore. It used to be like losing people that I love, like my mother or something. But I've come to the realization it's a part of life now. I don't know. I might be my son now, losing my son. That would be my biggest fear.
BEN WATERWORTH: That one makes sense. How old is your son? Can I ask that?
BRENDON RODNEY: Two in September. Oh, wow.
BEN WATERWORTH: And is that something that, you know, should he put on the sprinting boots, you will support him, or is that something you're just going to be like, mate, you do whatever you want to, but don't do sprinting.
BRENDON RODNEY: Don't sprint. I'm going to tell him that. But if that's what he wants to do, then, you know, of course I'll support. But I wouldn't recommend him to. I wouldn't say, all right, let's go sprint or something. Like, if he doesn't, because that's what he wants.
BEN WATERWORTH: Fantastic. The final question for you, Brendon, what is the one thing you can't live without?
BRENDON RODNEY: I don't know. I'm not even going to say my phone. I don't know. People? People think, they always say, like, you can live without people. But like, the interaction alone, like when you, I mean, COVID, you could see, like, a lot of people were complaining about, like, mental health and stuff like that, and you know, so the interaction with people is, like, a big thing. And being able to just talk and have a conversation, like, you may not need your phone, and a lot of people don't realise that they're on their phone talking to people. But the fact that you're around people and, you know, interacting is probably the most important thing.
BEN WATERWORTH: Great answer. No, I completely agree. It's certainly been a very interesting time, sort of looking at the dynamic about, you know, chatting to someone on a screen and chatting to someone in person and kind of, you know, realising there is a bit of a difference. Brendon, mate, it's been an absolute pleasure to chat with you today about your career and kind of prospects moving forward. And I'll say right now on behalf of the show, best of luck for Tokyo 2021. It feels weird saying that, but obviously that's when it's going to be taking place. And myself, co-host Colin and Jarrod, we're going to be cheering from the couch. And I hope we're sitting here in a year's time in front of our microphones watching you with another metal wrapped around your neck and the maple leaf draped around your shoulders celebrating another successful game. So best of luck for it all.
BRENDON RODNEY: Thank you very much, really appreciate it.
BEN WATERWORTH: Fantastic chat with Brendon there, and really do appreciate Brendon's time today in order for us to have that interview to be brought to you wherever you are listening, of course. And we are continuing on these interviews along the way. Our next interview is gonna be a bit of an interesting one. It's sort of, anybody who's listened to any of our other sister shows, particularly around Survivor, would be probably more so familiar with this person as a Survivor contestant. Ziggy's a game. Now, Ziggy, of course, competed on the fourth season of Australian Survivor. Did quite well and unfortunately didn't get invited back for All Stars. But of course, many people would also be very much familiar with the fact that Ziggy actually is an Olympian. She's a bronze medallist, a water polo player, was part of the Australian team that won bronze in London, also competed in Rio. And we're gonna chat to Ziggy a little bit about her Olympic career. Water polo, our first time we've ever had a water polo player on the show. So I'm very much looking forward to learning a little bit more about the sport, about her Olympic career, and everything else in between. So we're sort of alternating, it seems, between Australians and Canadians each week. So it's Australia's turn once again next week. So tune in for that. That is gonna be a fun, informative chat with Olympic bronze medallist Ziggy Zagame. So yes, tune in for that. And if you want these episodes delivered directly to your speakers without having to search them, the best way of course is to subscribe to our podcast, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher. We're on all the good platforms and the bad ones as well. And while you're there, mash that button with the feedback. Let us know what you think of the show. Got any guests you'd like us to get on? We are open-ended to anybody. Doesn't matter if they're from Canada, Australia, Burkina Faso, you name it, we'll chat. We'll chat to them. And maybe they can teach me how to chat because apparently I lose my way when I get that excited. So by all means, hit us up, Facebook of course, Twitter. You can hit us up on there and let us know who you would like to hear from. And we will do our very best to try and get them on the show. Thanks again to Brendon. A lot of fun chatting to him today. And thanks everyone for tuning in. This has been Off The Podium. My name is Ben and I will speak to you, or Colin, one of us, maybe both of us, will speak to you next time. And Jarrod too, sorry, I keep forgetting him. He never does these interviews, but hey Jarrod, I know you're there, you're listening. One of us three will speak to you next time. Good night.
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