It’s been just over a year since the Canadian men’s volleyball team surprised everyone with a fifth-place finish at the Rio Olympics.
A big part of that team was six-foot 10 Gavin Schmitt, Canada’s leading scorer at the games.
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“It was a major sense of accomplishment, and vindication for myself,” Schmitt said about his Olympic experience.
“I felt like finally I had wrapped up or just achieved everything that I set out to do with the national team.”
The outside hitter announced he would not be returning to Team Canada earlier this year while playing professionally in Poland for Asseco Resovia.
“It was tough to actually watch them and not be there and kind of, not turn my back on them but just step away, it was a really difficult decision to make,” said Schmitt, who had played with Team Canada since 2007.
The Saskatoon product had become a self-proclaimed “band-aid,” dealing with a slew of injuries: surgeries to his left and right shin, a dislocated and subluxed shoulder, and cartilage torn in his left hip.
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Professional volleyball players who also represent their national teams – in Schmitt’s case, Team Canada – usually play all year long.
That played a big factor into Schmitt’s decision not to play for the national team this summer.
“There’s not that many pro sports where you play 12 months out of the year. And that’s the cause of all my injuries, all my injuries have been overuse injuries” Schmitt said about his decision
“I just couldn’t keep going at the pace that I was going anymore and something had to give somewhere.”
It’s been a rare summer off for Schmitt and his body but he has been keeping up in the gym.
“It’s the longest break I’ve taken and I’m anxious to start playing again,” he said.
“I’m ready to go, I’m ready to start doing that and physically I’m feeling a lot better than I have in a long time.”
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Schmitt will be playing for the Toray Arrows in Japan next week, but there’s still a chance he could don the Maple Leaf again.
“I’ve also been in touch with the national team coach, because I never completely closed that door … but at that we need to see how this season will go for my body,” Schmitt added.
Schmitt hinted that if his band-aid of a body has healed, there’s a chance he might join Team Canada for the 2018 world championships.