Guiding a Champion:
Guy Schultz and Kate Current’s path to the Paris Olympics
Four years ago, Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) citizen and Western University head coach Guy Schultz sat down with varsity athlete Kate Current to discuss her future goals: the Olympics.
That dream of representing Canada at this elite international level has come true. Guy and Kate are traveling to Paris where Kate will compete in the 1500m track and field event on August 6, 2024.
Having coached Kate since 2016, Guy will be part of the team supporting her Olympic endeavors.
“It feels amazing and a bit surreal to be coaching at the 2024 Olympics” shares Guy. “I’m incredibly proud of Kate. And while it takes a lot of luck and hard work for any athlete to reach this point –it’s very much a team effort that requires an awareness of even the smallest details.”
Guy’s training with Kate started when she was recruited to Western University in 2016, where she pursued an engineering degree, and continued after her graduation in 2022.
Kate was the Western Mustangs Female Athlete of the Year in 2022 and holds school records in the 1500m and 3000m. Kate also competed in the 2023 Canadian Championship, the 2023 World Athletics Championship, the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, and 2023 Pan American Games.
Guy himself is a former Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champion who qualified for the NCAA championship in cross country and track and field in the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase. In 2016, he was named OUA Men’s Coach of the Year. With 30 years of coaching experience, he is currently in his 10th year as head coach of the cross-country team at Western and runs the intramural program for approximately 14,000 students.
Fostering a sense of community is important to Guy. He and his partner Janice, who is First Nations, have been involved with several North American Indigenous Games since 2002 – with experience competing, coaching and conducting try-outs for Team Ontario.
While Guy is coaching an individual athlete at the 2024 Olympics, he underscores the significance of teamwork and the extensive behind-the-scenes efforts involved in preparing an Olympic athlete. He acknowledges the vital contributions of Kate’s support team, which includes two assistant coaches, a strength coach, a nutritionist, and a physiotherapist. Additionally, Guy recognizes the crucial support from Kate’s partner, family, and friends, many of whom will be traveling to Paris to cheer her on.
“To succeed, you need to find people that motivate you and work well with you,” says Guy. “It’s hard, if not impossible to do it on your own. You need a good solid group of like-minded people to help you move forward.”
A strong support network is essential, but his number one tip for aspiring athletes is to put themselves first and pay attention to the details. “An awareness of everything, from aches and injuries to mental and emotional health, is important. If you aren’t taking care of the little things, you aren’t going to succeed.”
Born in Timmins, Guy currently resides in London working as Western University’s Program Coordinator for intramurals and head coach of cross country, track and field. This will be Guy’s first experience coaching in the Olympics.
The MNO wishes both Guy and Kate great success as they prepare to compete on the world stage, showcasing through their dedication and resilience what it truly means to be a champion.