In Their Words: Mike Moffat
Feb 18, 2008
Representing Canada, Calgary’s Mike Moffat and his older brother Chris Moffat compete together in two-man luge. Shortly before the Torino 2006 Winter Games, Chris returned from a three-year hiatus from competing and joined Mike. The duo finished in ninth place.
In his previous Olympic Winter Games experience, Chris had a fifth-place doubles finish at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games, with partner Eric Pothier, achieving Canada’s best ever Olympic luge result. Meanwhile, Mike finished twelfth in doubles with Grant Albrecht at the same Games.
The Moffat brothers are among the top ten of the fastest doubles luge sliders in the world. They look forward to sliding in Canada’s Games in 2010.
A Family Affair by Mike Moffat
In sport, everyone says how important family is. I can’t seem to get away from mine.
It all started in 1991 with my older brother Chris suited up next to me, and my parents’ fear-filled faces cheering us on. We began what has become our Olympic luge journey. From the beginning, luge has been a family affair.
My brother and I have always shared a close bond, but now — focused on competing at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games — we also share a doubles sled. Our family connection to luge also extends to my parents, Ed and Carol. My father is the president of the Canadian Luge Association, an active race official, as well as the race director for luge at the 2010 Winter Games. My mother also takes part as an official at national and international luge competitions, but her main role is mediating between father and sons.
Our parents have always supported us unconditionally. They have picked us up when we were down, and cheered loud when it seemed nobody cared. If it weren’t for my parents’ emotional and, at times, financial support, neither Chris nor I would be in the position to pursue an Olympic medal in Whistler.
It was not always this way. Both Chris and I competed at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games on separate doubles teams before we came together in 2005 to make a long-shot run at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games. In doubles luge, developing a good sense of your partner’s every move, no matter the situation, is paramount. In Torino, the odds were against us having not ever slid together. However, the brotherly bond seemed to play to our advantage and we quickly secured a place on the Olympic Games team and ultimately finished ninth at the Olympic competition.
Without my family, this Olympic journey would have never been possible.
Some may speculate that having my father as the race director at my Olympic Games competition is advantageous. The reality is that my father’s expectations placed on us participating in a fair and professional race is much greater upon Chris and I than the competitors we race against.
I can’t explain how grateful I am to have my family so involved and close to my sporting passion.
In Their Words Series
In Their Words is a celebration of the two-year countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. This 17-part series is comprised of personal stories written by Olympians and leaders with a passion for the Games. Visit vancouver2010.com every day from February 12 to 28 for a fresh story of inspiration, triumph and hope.
In Their Words: Kristi Richards
In Their Words: François-Louis Tremblay
In Their Words: Cristobal Huet
In Their Words: Dominique Maltais
In Their Words: Lascelles Brown
In Their Words: Johann Olav Koss
In Their Words: Tewanee Joseph
In Their Words: Joannie Rochette
Vancouver 2010 News
