Brent Olynyk received some bad news in his bid to make the Olympic team last year when his men's doubles partner Iain Sydie announced his retirement. However he joined forces with one of his best friends Bryan Moody in September 1999 and the pair roared to a qualification berth for the Olympic Games.

  "We didn't get off to a good start but we weren't fit at that point," said Olynyk, whose uncle Ken Olynyk is head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of Toronto. "But through hard work we were able to put the pieces together. The year had a lot of ups and downs and we were never too sure whether we'd make the Olympics. There was a lot of pressure because we couldn't have a bad tournament."

  Olynyk feels one of the turning points for himself, Moody and the entire Canadian team was the hiring of Gunther Huber last summer, a former national team coach in Germany.

  "It was the change we needed," said Olynyk. "Gunther added to our arsenal of shots and instilled a different style of play that has paid off. We don't make as many mistakes that now regardless of who we play against we feel we have a chance to win. And the proof is this year Canadian players have won a lot of international tournaments."

2000 Games
Sept. 17: Bryan Moody, Calgary, and Brent Olynyk, West Vancouver, B.C., lost 15-2, 15-1 to Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen, Denmark, in second round, eliminated.
Sept. 16: Brent Olynk, West Vancouver, B.C., and Robbyn Hermitage, Kitchener, lost 15-9, 15-9 to Simon Archer and Joanne Goode, Britain, in first round, eliminated.


2000 Games Badminton Coverage