Olympian's message: eat, sleep, live your dream

Brad Jacobs, the skip of Canada's Olympic gold medallist curling team, knew exactly what his passion was early in life.

“From the time I was 12 years old, I would wake up every morning thinking about curling,” he said. “Sometimes it's hard to find our passion in life, but never stop searching for it.”

The Sault Ste. Marie native was was in Sudbury on May 4 to talk to the student body at Marymount Academy.

“At this point in your lives, it's more about discovering what you love to do, finding that thing within,” he said. “It's not something that anyone can tell you — not a teacher, a parent or friend — it's something that's unique to you.”

Jacobs described his typical day when he was the students' age.

“I would go to the curling rink Monday to Friday, right after school all through elementary and high school,” he said. “I sacrificed spending time with my friends and family and lived at the curling rink. I worked there and I would practice non-stop.

“It was common for me to be at the curling rink from 4-11 p.m., five days a week.”

Besides finding one's passion, Jacobs also emphasized the importance of staying in the moment.

“That's not only true in athletics but in life in general,” he said. “Enjoy the moment and live in the moment. Work hard today and you will accomplish what you want to accomplish in the future.”

Myla McCormick, a student at Marymount, is also a member of the Lady Wolves hockey team that just won the 2015 Esso Cup national championship at the end of April. She said listening to Jacobs and watching highlights of his time at the Olympics gave her extra motivation to continue giving it her all in her sport.

“(It's important) to follow my passion, because not everybody is lucky enough to find theirs,” she said. “I'm holding onto hockey, I want to play in university. That would be amazing.”

While he was at the school, Jacobs presented McCormick with a replica medal from the Esso Cup.