Raymond Dykstra

Biography

Raymond Dykstra has dreamed of competing for Team Canada ever since he spent a week home from school sick with nothing to do all day but watch the Turin 2006 Olympic Winter Games on TV. He is a now Canadian champion, having won the national javelin title in 2014. He’s also enjoyed great success in his collegiate career at the University of Kentucky, setting a Wildcats record with his 76.72m throw to finish second at the 2014 NCAA Championships. In his four NCAA Championship appearances, he never finished lower than his sixth place as a freshman. He was also a four-time first team All-American and as a senior was named second team Academic All-American. Dykstra was 2015’s “Mr. Wildcat”, the highest individual honour bestowed by the UK Athletics Department.

PERSONAL

Family: Parents Ray and Joanne… Older brother Joseph and younger brother Thomas… Getting into the Sport: Started throwing javelin at age 14… After being cut from the grade nine varsity soccer team, the high school track coach asked if he wanted to try out for the relay team, but he got bored with the sprinting exercises and began to lose focus… He then saw a senior throwing the javelin and after being shown the basics, gave it a try… His first throw was better than that senior’s all-time best, even though the javelin was too heavy for his age… The coach said if he won a medal at provincials (OFSAA), she would buy him his own javelin… He won gold, breaking a 30 year old record by 7m, and promptly joined a track club… Outside Interests: Enjoys travelling to new places, socializing, playing beach volleyball… Graduated from the University of Kentucky in May 2015 with a degree in Kinesiology… Odds and Ends: Nicknames: Ray Guy, The Loud Canadian, Cage Slayer (given after throwing a discus in practice and knocking off the heavy door to a hammer cage)…Role model is Canadian record holder Scott Russell because he was a true sportsman competing at a high level with integrity… Always listens to the song “Tootsie Roll” by 69 Boys on competition day… Favourite motto: “If you think training is hard, try losing”…

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

IAAF WCh (junior): 2010 – 12^th (javelin)

IAAF WCh (youth): 2009 – 8^th (javelin)