Have you ever been at a party or an event and there was that one person that people just gravitate to? They take over the room with their energy and make everyone around them feel amazing. Their voice carries through the room and the smile on their face invites you in to be part of whatever they’re selling. That’s former member of the Canadian 4 x 100m men’s Olympic team EJ Parris.

We sat down with EJ to chat about the life of an Olympian and how he’s used those experiences to transition into his new life in YEG.

YEGFit: What has the transition been like moving from professional athlete to personal trainer and motivator? 

EJ Parris: The transition was what it was – If I had to give it a name, I would call it, “Oh no, what did I do? Why did I end my professional career so suddenly and prematurely?” I was unprepared or at least I felt that way. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next. 

For about five or six months everything was a blur… or at least it seems that way now. I remember rolling with the proverbial punches but always feeling like I was in the right place at the right time, and before I knew it I was the power and performance coach for a dozen NHL players at a dry-land hockey camp in St. Albert. 

I began sharing the story of my life with those in my sphere of influence. I guess my story was fairytale enough to inspire my audience, clients, listeners; which in turn earned me the title of Motivational Achievement Speaker. The transition from pro athlete to personal trainer/ motivator has been very humbling. 

YEGFit: What sparked your interest in athletics?

EJ Parris: Natural selection led me right to athletics. As far back as I can remember I was always outrunning my opponents, be it on the soccer pitch or in the schoolyard. After watching my sister take up the sport in high school, I was compelled to do the same. Not only did I want to follow in her footsteps, I wanted to go beyond that. I was addicted to the electric atmosphere of each track meet, and the powerful reflex called sprinting. I had chosen a sport that had naturally chosen me… I guess it was meant to be…

YEGFit:  Competing at a high level takes a lot of prep. How did you plan your day as a pro athlete vs. today?

EJ Parris: Lucky for me I had a very smart coach who did most of the planning for me. I would simply (hardly a simple task) bring action to his plan(s). Here is his winning formula: Train optimally (9:30am -12pm); eat a number of healthy meals throughout the day; use recovery modalities like massage, ART, acupuncture, mediation, naps, and get quality sleep every night. 

These days, I still use my former coaches winning formula but this time I have a few extra ingredients to add, such as work, studying and a social life. Each day I allot 2-3 hours to coaching, 2 hours to reading and writing, and 1-2 hours for movement and strength training. No longer am I planning to be the fastest man, I am simply training to become a better mover. 

YEGFit: Being a competitive athlete comes with a ton of pressure. How did you deal with this pressure and how has that helped you today?

EJ Parris: For many years I had a bad relationship with pressure. I wasn’t mature enough to adapt to its imposition, and so the pressure would always beget breakdown. I would waste time wallowing until something lit a fire under my ass. 

It wasn’t until I heard the old proverb by George S. Patton Jr. “pressure makes diamonds”, that I reformed my conscious response to pressure. I then began considering pressure to be the catalyst to growth. Now pressure begets breakthrough instead of breakdown – I now allow myself to be galvanized by pressure.

YEGFit: What was your training regime like? How about today?

EJ Parris: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday was dedicated to sprinting, followed by a dynamic or near maximal effort lifting session. Tuesdays and Saturdays I would perform general strength circuit training; Thursdays and Sundays were rest days.

Training took precedence over almost every thing else in my day aside from my health. Now, I find myself squeezing my training sessions in between work and study time. I don’t sprint much these days but I can hoist a small car over my head (just joking).

Now I train to improve movement literacy and I have a lesser focus on specialization. My training aims at building and maintaining a longstanding relationship with high quality pain free movement.

YEGFit: You’re a damn happy, positive guy. What gives you such a happy outlook on life?

EJ Parris: Everyday, I wake with a heartbeat in my chest; the power to shape my reality through mentalism, and the ability to translate thought into action. 

I am in charge of ME – I get to make the intimate choices/decisions. So I make it a habit to choose enjoyment, creativity and to be profoundly involved in life and it’s many processes. 

YEGFit: What advice can you give to any aspiring athletes trying to make it pro?

EJ Parris: It’s your journey, make it fun and make it memorable. Let passion be your guide and be the author of your destiny. Don’t allow excuse(s) to be your unmaking, and be ready to learn.

YEGFit:  Who or what motivates/inspires you? 

EJ Parris: Movement and its infinite possibilities are the perfect dosage of inspiration for me. I find a lot of my movement inspiration comes from watching martial arts and dance; particularly, B-boys, popping, locking, new style hip hop, contemporary, Krump style and house dance. 

YEGFit: Do you have any new projects in the works right now?

EJ Parris: I’m working on developing my brand as a keynote speaker. I enjoy it so much… perhaps more than I do coaching. My last speaking engagement was with a corporate audience at ATB Financial’s Private Wealth Management Conference, and since returning home from that engagement I have received a number of other speaking opportunities. I’m excited!