How Canoe Kayak Canada creates Olympic champions - Ian Mortimer

What does it take to reach the Olympic level—and help others get there?This week on Rinkside, Emma and Ryan sit down with Ian Mortimer, former world-class paddler and current Chief Technical Officer of Canoe Kayak Canada. Ian shares deep insight into the making of elite athletes, from his own journey wearing the Maple Leaf to helping Canada’s next generation navigate high-performance sport.They talk about the power of focusing on process over outcome, overcoming injury and isolation, and resisting the influence of highlight-reel culture in youth sports. Ian also breaks down his "Four Corners" model of athlete development—touching on the physical, tactical, mental, and emotional layers that drive long-term success.Timestamps00:00 – Intro: Welcoming Ian Mortimer01:00 – Ian’s Career: Athlete to Technical Leader03:00 – What It’s Like to Represent Canada05:41 – Wearing the Maple Leaf: Then vs. Now07:08 – Managing Pressure at the World Stage08:21 – Embracing the Moment & Staying Present09:04 – Winning vs. Enjoying the Journey10:03 – The “Monster Under the Bed”: Reframing Outcome Anxiety11:21 – How Process-Oriented Thinking Develops Over Time12:01 – The Moment Ian Learned to Focus on What He Could Control13:21 – Coaching Different Learning Styles13:45 – Motivation: “Don’t Be Afraid to Work Harder Than Everyone Else”15:49 – Peer Pressure, Performance Culture & Risk Taking16:34 – Coaching Individual Athletes Within Competitive Groups17:44 – Olympic Teammates Competing Head-to-Head18:03 – Building Trust in High-Stakes Training Environments19:03 – What Predicts Long-Term Success in Athletes?20:08 – Inputs vs. Outputs: The Real Metrics that Matter21:17 – The Four Corners of Athlete Development23:15 – Micro Habits: What a Good Warm-Up Says About an Athlete24:03 – Doing the "Non-Instagram" Work25:16 – Social Media’s Influence on Young Athletes26:50 – Instant Experts & Skipping the Process27:44 – Sport as a Counterbalance to Instant Gratification28:25 – Recovering from Injury: A Mental and Physical Rebuild29:55 – “Your Recovery Is Now Your Training”30:47 – Final Reflections & Ian’s Lasting Advice31:12 – Ian’s Mantra: Outwork Everyone31:30 – Wrap-Up & ThanksWhether you’re a coach, athlete, or sport parent, this episode is packed with practical takeaways and powerful reminders of what matters most on the path to greatness.From grassroots to greatness, hosts Emma Miskew and Ryan Steeves dive into the world of youth and competitive sports, on and off the ice. With honest, insightful conversations, they explore coaching, performance, mental health, parenting, and the real-life stories that shape athletes at every level.Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or passionate fan, Ringside brings you closer to the moments that matter—from the first team practice to the world stage.Follow Rinkside PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rinksidepodcast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tBBhYO6q3u8IyQVOrk9C0?si=37408da8ea704f2e&nd=1&dlsi=7391af3161294056Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rinkside/id1796037246