A Carleton University alumnus recently rubbed elbows with some Olympians and has his sights set on joining their ranks in the future.
Ben Tardioli, a 24-year-old civil engineering graduate, competed in a World Cup canoeing event in Russia from Aug. 7-10, where he made the final race, racing against international and Olympic-calibre athletes.
“These are the best guys in the world,” he said. “I raced against the current Olympic champion. I actually beat the world champion in the semifinal.”
That’s another addition to a number of international showings this summer for Tardioli, as he also competed in the Canadian national team trials.
There he came in second in the first final to 2012 Olympian Jason McCoombs and beat him in the second final. That led to a race-off between McCoombs and Tardioli, which the Carleton grad won.
As well, Tardioli went to the World Cup finals in the Czech Republic and Hungary. He placed fourth overall in the Czech event.
“That’s what I’m most proud about—getting to do that,” he said. “It’s an awesome feeling for sure.”
Tardioli said he had never represented Canada at such a high level before this summer.
In the past year, he went to an international regatta in Slovakia, but said it wasn’t quite the same competition.
“World Cups and World Championships are where all the good people go,” he admitted.
Although Tardioli started canoeing when he was nine-years-old, he started training seriously and competing when he was 16.
But he said this is a huge breakout year for him, as he moved from the under-23 ranks into senior competitions.
“Last year I was probably fourth in Canada and now I’m ninth in the world,” he reflected.
He said he thinks he can still improve a lot and place higher than ninth in the near future.
When asked whether he’ll continue training or look for a job now that he’s graduated, Tardioli said his recent results are encouraging him to chase a particularly big dream.
“I think I’ll train full-time until Rio 2016. I think I have a good shot,” he said.
In order to qualify for the Olympics, Tardioli must win both of two national team trials, then go to the World Championships as the number one canoeist in Canada.
He must place in the top eight finishers of that race to earn a spot on Team Canada’s Olympic team.
“Coming in [the] top eight is for sure in sight,” he said.
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