Travis Jayner

Golden ambition
Canada native Travis Jayner is making his Olympic debut in his home country, representing the U.S., in the 1000m and 5000m relay. Jayner is frequently in the top 10 in the 1000m at World Cup events, and his goal is to earn a medal in that event in Vancouver, as well as to win the relay with the U.S. team. "I know we can win the relay," Jayner said.

Canadian-American
Born to American parents in Moncton, Jayner grew up Canadian but was always an American citizen. His parents, who grew up in New York City, decided to move to the remote town of about 100,000 when he father, Jack, finished college. He had earned a degree in architecture, and was offered a job in Moncton. "They wanted a change, they wanted to try something else," he said, and as a result Travis and his brother, Alex, are the only Canadian members of the entire family.

Road to Salt Lake
After attending college in Montreal, at McGill and Concordia, Jayner moved to Michigan in 2005 to train at the national team training center in Marquette. He then followed the national team to Colorado Springs in 2007, and Salt Lake City in 2008. He now lives in Salt Lake with two other skaters. "They skate long track, so that's good," he said of his roommates choosing the other discipline. "No big rivalry in the house."

Family pastime
Jayner's father was a successful short track skater, and started Travis in the sport when he was 5 years old. Jack Jayner skated in New York City in the 1950s and ‘60s, long before it was an Olympic or even international sport, and was a U.S. and North American champion during high school. Jack found a club nearby in Moncton, and introduced his sons to the ice at a young age but never forced them. "My parents, my family in general, have always been very supportive no matter what," Travis said. "Growing up they said I didn't have to skate if I didn't want to."

'Heart set on skating'
Though Jayner found skating early on, he always played other sports, among them swimming, track, cross country, volleyball and soccer. The coaches would always try to get Jayner to quit the others to spend more time on one sport, but he knew which one he'd end up choosing. "I always had my heart set on skating so for me it was never a question," he said.

Interntional relations
Jayner's parents still live on Moncton, though his father recently retired. He tries to get home at least once a year, usually for Christmas, but the trip from Salt Lake City involves three separate flights each way. His brother now lives two hours north of Paris in Rouen, France, where he works as a teacher's assistant. Being in Europe, just a train ride away, he was able to travel to two World Cups events and World Team Championships to see Travis skate.

Holding back
Jayner loves to ski, but has been unable to take advantage of living in Utah, which he calls "a skier's paradise" and claims to have the greatest snow on Earth. It's too risky for him, but he says it's worth the sacrifice now that he has made the Olympic team. He also likes painting, graffiti style, and has designed some helmets, hats and shirts in what little free time he has. Art is something he hopes to pursue when he is finished skating.