Karl Svoboda began his rugby career at Belleville's Centennial Secondary School and the Belleville Bulldogs club team. When he started with the Bulldogs at 16 he was the club's youngest player. When he retired from the game he was the club's oldest, and probably most accomplished.

Karl had success in rugby the world over. He won three OUA championships with the University of Toronto Blues and he first made Canada's national team in 1985. He ended up being team captain of the national team for years and played in the first three Rugby World Cups in 1987, 1991, and 1995. He also played senior rugby for the Ajax Wanderers and attended the prestigious Oxford University in England at the dawn of professional rugby in 1996.

I gleaned this information from research because for a decade or more of sharing week 5 coaching duties and sitting around campfires this understated superstar would rather play guitar and talk about fishing or that day's bike ride or swim than boast about any success he enjoyed. This man was about helping others, and among those he impacted was his son Daniel.

Karl was recruited by Greg Rogers to head up the rugby camp at Olympia and he loved it so much that he stayed at Olympia for 27 years. He loves the father-son time with Daniel, and loves working with rugby co-director Erin Murphy. The biggest attraction, though, was that the message of Dave Grace and the Hero's Journey resonated within him. He felt throughout his career that many key people helped  him on his path and  he has a compulsion to do the same for the next generation. He loves helping others find out about themselves, with rugby being a vehicle for this to happen. Karl Svoboda is an everyday hero.

Funny thing, though, this blog is not about Karl Svoboda. In what is another Olympia Hero's Journey that this blog is all about, I introduce you to Daniel Svoboda, a veritable chip off the old man's block.

Daniel Svoboda started to come to Olympia when he was three and started participating in session when he was 5. I was lucky to witness all this and see Daniel develop from the respectful son who would play with the others kids in the dirt and on the fields to someone who has taken the lessons of his dad, Olympia, and every other coach who has helped him to become an accomplished athlete himself. 

An aspect of the Hero's Journey is that the person we become on our path is far more important than any accomplishments we garner along the way; case in point Daniel Svoboda. I recall when Daniel was 11 or 12 he would gladly spend time with the 'little kids' on coach's row. He often was the talk of coach's row for his kindness and genuine nature with the younger coach's kids, and he was often the talk of the gymnastics coaches who admired him for the combination of a kind soul and athletic good looks. A truly well-rounded athlete, Daniel never lorded his skills over anyone. 

As he got a little older he began helping  Karl and Erin with the younger rugby participants, being a role model for technique but more so for how to listen and interact with the coaches and counsellors. 

 I Interviewed Karl four years ago for  A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp and here is what he had to say about his son:

" Daniel has been exposed to high-level rugby and has a real sense of the game. I think he has a future in the game, but that's up to him. My biggest thrill is seeing how great a person he has become, and Olympia played a role in that."

So what has become of that three year old running around coach's row in rubber boots?

Daniel played for the Belleville Bulldogs and the Ajax Wanderers and is presently in his fourth year at Queens. HIs leadership skills got him named as vice captain for the Gaels, where he played flanker and 8 man. This is a world-class athlete on the cusp of so much more.

The journey is far from over for this elite athlete, whose talent and class make him an example that his parents, his school, his club, and Olympia Sports Camp can be proud of. A natural leader from a very early age, Daniel hopes to combine his two passions by attending teachers college at either UBC or a school in Ontario and continue playing the sport he loves while on his journey to becoming a teacher.

He has professional aspirations to play Major League Rugby in North America or perhaps overseas. His ultimate goal is to represent Canada on the world stage, and it's a goal we are excited to watch him pursue. HERE WE GO!!!!!!

This heroic journey is just one of hundreds within the Olympia community. If you have someone who you feel is a hero of their journey and who the Olympia community would like to hear about connect with me at coachdools71@gmail.com.  Within a community of everyday heroes there are many stories that people would love to read about, stories I would love to write about. 

Copies of A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp are available at The Different Drummer Book Store on Locust St in Burlington. Or if you live in the Hamilton/ Halton area etransfer $30 with your address and I'll deliver it to your door.

If you would like us to come to your town for a book event, email me at coachdools71@gmail.com

Online copies are available at aherosjourney.ca

Audiobook version is available at Audible, Amazon, or iTunes 

If you or your favourite camper are looking to get to camp in the summer of 2024 check out the website at 

olympiasportscamp.com. A week when you will meet so many great people. A week when you'll learn a lot about what you are made of.