Barrie Shepley had his eureka moment while working a summer job in an auto plant.
Captivated by Canadian swimmer Alex Baumann racing to gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Shepley realized that he wanted to be in elite sport. His skillset was best suited to being a coach.
Chasing greatness began with hustling. Starting from his residence room at McMaster University, he bootstrapped and helped triathlon move from a loose structure into something with a foundation, a fanbase and young athletes who would become its long-term future. One of them, first spotted in Sharbot Lake, Ont., was Simon Whitfield.
Eventually Shepley became Canada's national triathlon coach for several years beginning in 1991. In 2000, all his groundwork was validated when Whitfield became the first Olympic men's triathlon champion at the Sydney Olympics.
In Chasing Greatness, Shepley shares his experiences working with elite athletes and hobbyists who were bent on proving something to themselves. In addition to his commentary work, Shepley is cofounder of Personal Best, a Caledon, Ont.-based health and wellness firm that works with corporate and individual clients.
SportsLit (Season 8, Episode 6) - Ken Dryden (Hockey Hall of Fame Goalie 1983 / Author) - The Class
SportsLit (Season 8, Episode 5) - Keith O'Brien (New York Times Best Selling Author) - Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball
SportsLit (Season 8, Episode 4) - Jack McCallum (Sports Illustrated) - The Real Hoosiers
SportsLit (Season 8, Episode 3) - Morgan Campbell (CBC Sports Sr. Contributor) - My Fighting Family: Borders and Bloodlines and the Battles That Made Us"
SportsLit (Season 8, Episode 2) - Jacob Pomrenke (SABR) - Joe Jackson vs. Chicago American League Baseball Club
SportsLit (Season 8, Episode 1) - Erik Kramer (Former NFL Quarterback) w/ William Croyle - The Ultimate Comeback
SportsLit (Season 7, Episode 8) - Rich Cohen (Rolling Stone, Co-creator - HBOs Vinyl) - When the Game Was War: The NBA’s Greatest Season
SportsLit (Season 7, Episode 7) - Ted Nolan (NHL Coach of the Year - 1997) with Meg Masters - Life in Two Worlds
SportsLit (Season 7, Episode 6) - Doug MacLean with Scott Morrison - Draft Day
SportsLit (Season 7, Episode 5) - Jonathon Jackson - The Making of Slap Shot (Revised 46th Anniversary Edition)
SportsLit (Season 7, Episode 4) - Donovan Bailey (World and Olympic 100 metre gold medallist) - Undisputed: A Champions Life
SportsLit (Season 7, Episode 3) - Dave Hill (Comedian/Musician/Writer) -The Awesome Game - One Man’s Incredible, Globe-Crushing Hockey Odyssey
SportsLit (Season 7, Episode 2) - Justin Davis (NHL Draft choice & Memorial Cup champion) - Conflicted Scars: An Average Player’s Journey to the NHL
SportsLit (Season 7, Episode 1) - John Gibbons (Blue Jays Manager - ’04-’08 / ’13-’18) - Gibby: Tales of a Baseball Lifer
SportsLit (Season 6, Episode 14) - Suzanne (Suzy) Wrack (The Guardian) - A Woman’s Game
SportsLit (Season 6, Episode 13) - Dwayne De Rosario (2011 MLS MVP) & Brendan Dunlop (Broadcaster) - DeRo - My Life
SportsLit (Season 6, Episode 12) - Steve Simmons (Toronto Sun Columnist) - A Lucky Life
SportsLit (Season 6, Episode 11) - John Shannon (Hockey Night in Canada / Analyst and Insider) -Evolve or Die
SportsLit (Season 6, Episode 10) - Bryan Trottier (Hockey Hall of Fame - 1997) - All Roads Home
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