Massimo Bertocchi is living the Olympic dream.
This month, the Maple native qualified for the Beijing Olympics and will carry Canadian hopes into the decathlon events.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be able to compete with the best in the world. It’ll be great competition I’m sure,” he said. “It’s an honour for me just to represent my country.”
In looking ahead to the Olympics, Bertocchi isn’t about to guarantee he will reach the medal podium. But he said the best decathletes often peak between the ages of 26 and 30 and he still hasn’t reached those years, so he feels anything can happen.
A finish in the top 10, he said, would be a nice way to debut in the Olympics.
For that to happen, Bertocchi said he must stay focused, keep hydrated and just do what he’s been training to do.
Getting more specific, Bertocchi said he must accumulate as many points as he can in his strongest disciplines, the 100 metres, 110m hurdles, pole vault and 400m.
“I’m just going out to do the best I can do,” he said.
What Bertocchi has accomplished hasn’t gone unnoticed by the local community.
As a means of celebrating making the Olympic team and to offset some of his costs for the hours of training he’s done, not to mention participation in other meets held around the world, Villa Charities hosted a charity fundraising event Saturday afternoon at the Columbus Centre (901 Lawrence Ave. W) in Toronto.
Bertocchi couldn’t be more thankful for the support he’s received.
“The decathlon is the most difficult of track and field sports and my training is intense because I need to work on 10 different disciplines,” he said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without everyone’s support, and Villa Charities is helping to raise money because I can’t work. (Without that support) I wouldn’t be able to train and I don’t think I’d be going to the Olympics right now.”
His trips to major meets come at high cost, he added.
“I need to travel to other countries in order to find out what the level of competition is and that’s an expensive proposition for sure. The support of everyone, family and friends is amazing. I’m grateful and lucky I have that type of support and in having the best coaches in the world, too,” he said.
In the two-and-a-half years Massimo Bertocchi has been a participant in the sport he’s accomplished quite a bit. Two years ago, he won his first Canadian title.
Last year, he successfully retained the crown.
At this year’s championships at the University of Windsor, the 22-year-old St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School graduate and University of Toronto Track Club member won his third decathlon crown.
In accumulating a personal best 8,014 points in the 10 events, Bertocchi surpassed the minimum 8,000 required to meet the A-plus standard and qualified to compete at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
For Bertocchi, his Olympic debut is like a dream come true. Especially since prior to becoming a decathlete, he began his track and field career as a high jumper. Then he made the conversion to what’s known as one of the toughest disciplines, through the encouragement of his current University of Toronto Track Club coach, Andy Higgins.
For those who could not attend Saturday’s fundraiser, but wish to make a donation, Villas Charities will provide a tax receipt for any donation of $10 or more. Payments can be made to Villa Charities, Attention: Pal D’Iulio, with a note to state it’s for the Massimo Bertocchi fund.
Corporate donations are also welcome and will receive a tax receipt.
To help fundraising efforts, e-mail gbertocchi@sympatico.ca
Fast facts on decathlon:
Held over two days and composed of 10 track-and-field events, it consists of: