In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at WelcometoKelowna.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbors, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do. We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination using the form to the left. Thank you, Kelowna!
Nick Goplen was nominated for In Focus because of his determination and focus in his quest to join the Canadian Olympic Team and bring home a Gold Medal.
What is your name?
Nick Goplen
Where do you work?
Long Track Speed Skater
Where can people find you or your business online?
How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
Linkedin -Nick Goplen
What is your Twitter account?
Twitter - Nick Goplen
What do you always find yourself saying?
Acio firebolt
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
The 1980 version of Eric Heiden
If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Olympic Gold
If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose?
Leonardo Da Vinci. The guy invented everything
Who inspires you?
It's too difficult for me to name one person/thing that inspires me. I find myself inspired by new things everyday
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
- Olympic Gold
- Visit Iceland
- Visit Machu Picchu
If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
S.S. Anne
If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
I wouldn't want to spoil any special day by seeing it early
What are you passionate about?
Speed Skating - I don't think it would be possible to complete the training I do if I was not extremely passionate about the sport
Environment - Very passionate about preserving the environment
Economics - more of an interest. I don't know if it's possible to be passionate about economics
What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
I don't know if it is a single day. I think one of the great things I have experienced is witnessing the profound changes Canada experienced during the Vancouver Olympics. Our country was transformed in those two weeks. There seemed to be a new sense of pride from all Canadians following the Olympics where we no longer defined ourselves as simply a group of nice, polite people. Now there appears to be an aggressive pride that comes with being Canadian.
Also, from an athlete's perspective, it was amazing to see the support Canada gave its athletes during the games.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
The results of my past year of skating
For a few years, my skating career had kind of plateaued due to chronic lung infections. With the help of doctor's here in Kelowna I was able to identify and correct the root of my health problem and return to training/racing uninhibited by illness.
If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
Space travel. I would like to know how far away we are from seeing a Millennium Falcon
Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna?
I can't go as much as I would like to or I would become obese, but I love Arby's
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Anything outdoors.
If I could change 1 thing about Kelowna, it would be:
Well the obvious answer for me would be to build an oval in Kelowna but that seems a little bit unrealistic until I win the lottery.
I think Kelowna has massive potential as the cycling mecca of Canada much the same way Eugene, Oregon has become "Track Town USA". Guelph, Ontario is now adopting the moniker of the "Running Capital of Canada" and I believe Kelowna should take steps to become the national leader in bike ridership and take a much more European approach to biking where more people are able to ride their bikes to work every day.
With a focus on having safe, accessible network of bike lanes/paths we can transform Kelowna into a two wheeled city where everyone from those just learning to ride a bike, all the way up to competitive cyclists would be able to enjoy the roads. I feel like I see more and more people out on their bikes every year but there is still work to be done to ensure cyclists are no longer secondary citizens on the road.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
I think the great part of Kelowna is how it manages to maintain its small town feel while still enjoying the many amenities of having a relatively large population.
The climate isn't the worst either...
My choice for the Kelowna person of the day is:
My mom
She is the head coach of the Kelowna speed skating club and has volunteered an enormous amount of her time over the last dozen years towards improving athletics in the Okanagan.
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