When Burnaby Central schoolmate Neil Sami volunteered Curtis Moss to throw javelin for the high school track and field team, the Olympic Games were the farthest thing from his mind.
Now, making the qualifying standard for the 2012 London Games is the singular goal of the former Canadian senior men's " champion. Moss was given an encouraging boost by the community at a fundraiser held last Sunday at the Marine Pub in Burnaby to help with the costs of reaching his dream. Moss is just one metre shy of reaching the national B standard of 79.50 metres.
To be eligible for selection to the national team, Moss must reach that goal in at least two sanctioned meets this season before a July 1 deadline.
A single throw of 82m, or approximately 2.5m short of the Canadian record would give Moss an automatic entry to the national team.
Moss threw more than 78 metres in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009.
That 78.32m personal best stands fourth all-time among Canadian throwers.
"It's not so frustrating to me if you look at it in a global scale," said Moss of the high standards.
"To get in the top 12 in the world you have to throw over 80m. I want to get there and accomplish something. My goals are more than that. I want to throw 80m consistently."
And that's where last weekend's fundraiser comes in.
Last year, Moss was throwing consistently in the 75-m distance.
In order to make that two-to four-metre jump, Moss says he needs the kind of competition only Europe can offer.
"Going to Europe for javelin is kind of like playing hockey here," Moss said.
"It's so important for someone like Curtis to get to Europe and get that competition," said throwing coach and B.C. Sports Hall of Famer Don Steen. "I think (Moss) is very consistent in competing under pressure and I'd like to see him in that circumstance as much as possible."
At the weekend fundraiser, Moss raised enough money to get him over to Europe, where he has plans to compete at meets in Germany and Denmark.
But there are a whole lot more expenses - approximately $20,000 worth - that would make his training that much easier.
Equipment and a weeklong warm weather camp at the U.S. Olympic training centre at Chula Vista, California cost in the neighbourhood of $10,000.
Recovery therapy and sport science expenses bump that total by another $2,000 or more.
Moss uses visualization techniques to see himself taking the 30-m runup and letting sail a really long throw.
With the help of his family, friends and the 160 or so supporters who turned up at the fundraising event, Moss is ready to take his dream to the next level.
"This has been my dream for a very long time," said Moss. "I need to be competitive against the best. I guess I have to see what I'm made of in a competitive atmosphere."
Moss will start his quest for qualification in April at his alma mater University of British Columbia. He then plans to compete at the Mount SAC relays in California and Penn relays later in the month.
After that it is off to Europe to see how he fares against Olympic-level throwers. In June, Moss will be back in B.C. to contest the National Track League series, which includes the Harry Jerome International Track Classic in Burnaby.
The Canadian Olympic Trials will be held this year in Calgary in late June.
It is the hope of Moss that he will reach or surpass standard at two or more of the approximately one dozen sanctioned venues this season.
While one metre does not seem like much to most people, Moss added "the difference is huge" to him.
"It is the difference for me being an Olympian and me having to chose to do something else," he said. "It's something I'm passionate about and I take it very seriously, but I enjoy every minute of it."
To support Moss on his road to London, call by phone at 778-988-6053 or email him at curtismoss15@hotmail. com.
