Page 89 - SHARP Summer 2024

saying it was guaranteed. Clearly, it wasn’t. But, to this point, I feel like it’s been in my hands. If I execute, I should win. I’ve been competing against myself, to some degree.”
In Paris, the stakes will be greater, as will the competition. “Paris is different. There’s no room for mistakes,” he explains. “If I want a medal, I have to be perfect. It’s another game entirely. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Such brazen, unfiltered confidence is startling to hear — particularly when contrasted with his Team Canada teammates. In an era when athletes are increasingly media-trained, general sentiments of “We’re just happy to be here” seem more common than ever and, while inoffensive, they hardly offer genuine insight into an athlete’s psyche.
When asked whether he believes his approach stands in contrast with the typical Canadian sensibility, he laughs before letting out a long, deliberate sigh. “That’s crazy that you’re asking this,” he says. “People never bring it up in interviews. But it drives me crazy. There’s this hyper-sensitivity around recognizing that we all want to be the best. But that’s the arena we’ve entered. Everything is a competition. It’s eat or be eaten. Choose a side. That might sound crazy, but that’s truly how I see it. Recognizing your abilities and your potential is part of that. If you’re not willing to acknowledge your potential, then how are you going to reach it?”
Spoken like a true disciple of his coach’s “work or get out of the gym” mantra, the mere mention of passivity animates Dolci. “Sometimes, I think in Canada, we tell the world, ‘We’re here to have fun,’” he says. “And yes, this is a beautiful journey. I’m grateful to
compete. But for me, winning is fun. Seeing my teammates succeed is fun. When I feel like I’m going into a battle, that’s when I have fun. That’s where I find joy and peace, almost.”
I ask Dolci what results would deliver that joy in Paris. He begins to answer, but then stops himself in a rare moment of self-censorship. Knowing one’s value, it seems, is one thing. But offering a precise medal count on record? Perhaps a step too far.
“I’ll enter Paris as the best version of myself,” he eventually offers. “As long as I’ve done everything possible to put myself in a position to succeed, I’ll be happy, because success isn’t guaranteed. Success isn’t fair. It isn’t owed to you because you think you’ve worked harder than everyone else, especially when the bar is so high. I trained better than I ever had to prepare for Tokyo. Then, the pandemic happened and I couldn’t even compete. Is that fair? I don’t know. But that’s life. The best in the world will be in Paris. Maybe experience wins out. Maybe someone has a better day than me. I can’t control that. I just control the work.”
It’s a strikingly nuanced perspective for a 21-year-old, particularly one with such lofty goals. Still, after a few seconds of silence, Dolci can’t help himself.
“But I want to medal,” he laughs, and once more exhales deeply, as if releasing a sneeze that he’s been holding in. “Nothing is owed but, man, I love to win. That’s not just in the sport. That’s in life. I won’t apologize for that. People might think it’s crazy. But it’s gotten me here. I’m not special. I’m not some ‘Chosen One.’ I wasn’t born with this talent. I didn’t drink a magic potion when I was young. I just love to win. And I hate to lose. It’s as simple as that.”
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