Canada in Tokyo – Chris Dornan – Behind The Athletes

We all know that the athletes are the main attraction of an Olympic Games, but what about the people behind the scenes who help make it happen?

Chris Dornan is one of those people and his company, High-Performance Public Relations, works with the participants in a number of sports to provide personal and professional guidance.

From play-by-play of his siblings’ games to knowing the obscure stats, he and everyone on his street in east Saskatoon knew of Dornan’s passion for sport.

But after journalism school and later working with Golf Canada, the public relations path started in 2001 when Dornan moved to Calgary.

“I just love the stories,” Dornan said. “It’s not so much the wins or losses. I enjoyed bringing them alive and introducing them to Canadians.

“I began to identify a bit of a gap (with) smaller more unique Olympic sports that didn’t have that exposure or reach into communities that athletes represent within the media.”

Dornan, who grew up and went to school in Saskatoon, is now working with athletes at his eighth Olympic Games, with triathlon, taekwondo and a number of the debuting sports such as karate, sport climbing and skateboarding.

“It’s going to be an interesting Games where I get to work with these newer athletes and introduce them to being on the Olympic stage.” Dornan said.

That includes not only a platform for the athletes to capitalize on their appearance on the grandest stage, but also their professional and mental needs.

“It’s easy for anyone to stand there and celebrate,” he said. “What’s tough is people who don’t necessarily achieve their goals and that’s kind of the powerful role I can play.”

With so many sports and so many athletes to work with, it is often a balancing act to prioritize the needs, but that is something that Dornan prides himself upon.

“I think whether it’s work or personal, everyone is living very complex lives these days,” Dornan explained. “(During an) Olympic Games the to-do list doesn’t get striked off quite as quick, you get a new fire thrown at you every day.”

Dornan has a star-studded phone contacts list, names as big as Jack Nicklaus, whom Dornan was able to connect with client Canadian skeleton Olympic silver medallist Jeff Pain.

So if the ship has sailed on a pro career how do you get into something like this? Volunteer and take opportunities is Dornan’s tip.

“It came down to hard work, I obviously got that through my parents,” Dornan said.

“I said, ‘What do I need to do to control my success?’ I volunteered at the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, I was a sponge and tried to add things to my resume. I would volunteer and never take no (for an answer).

“I’ve been able to be somewhat successful and I’m so grateful to all those people who have taken their time to help me.”

A lot of those people are right here in Saskatchewan and despite his career and contacts, Dornan never forgets his roots.

“We are all there as Team Canada. (But) every time I see someone with Saskatchewan behind their name you definitely feel a sense of pride,” he added.

Listen to the full interview – https://iono.fm/e/1079524