In the politically correct world in which we live, sports people are told that winning is not important, 'it is the taking part that counts'. Caolan McBrien must be cut from older stuff, however, as he simply does not buy into that notion. Winning is what makes this St Michael's student tick and while his mild mannered exterior would make you think otherwise, there is a steely resolve lurking just beneath the surface.
"Ah yeah, I would be competitive I suppose. Even in training I would try and win all the sprints."
Winning every sprint would be normal for a sprinter but given that Caolan is a triple jumper first and 400m runner second, you can begin to see that finishing first is something that sits very well him.
Caolan was an easy choice for the 'Fermanagh Herald' Sports Personality for July. In the Ulster Schools, he captured a gold in the 400m and two silvers in the long and triple jump and in the Irish Championships he attained a bronze in the long jump and a triple jump gold.
Like many other athletes in Fermanagh, it was Francie Shaw who first introduced him to track and field.
"When Francie came to St Michael's in my third year, he got me into it. I was a little hesitant at the start but then really got into it and really began to enjoy it but without Francie nothing would have happened; I owe him practically everything."
Only six months after he first laced up his spikes, Caolan found himself competing in the E District athletic event. To his surprise, he won the triple jump and went on to win the Ulster and Irish title in the same year. It was a meteoric rise and one that the young Boho lad has built on over recent times although, as he explains himself, he has had a 'few lows over the years as well.' But the lows only made Caolan more hungry for success.
"They definitely drive you on to get better and win medals. That is why I like athletics, because it is down to you and nobody else," he explained before going on to expand on this point,
"In football, it is very much one team against another where as in athletics you do not have to rely on anybody else. There is not the same sort of competitiveness. You definitely get the opportunity to make more friends because at the end of the day it is only yourself that you are competing against."
Caolan is the baby in a very supportive family. His two elder sisters, Seanin and Patrina, are proud of their little brother's exploits while his parents Sean and Rosemary have always been of the utmost support to him.
"They have been really good and very helpful over the years," he told 'the Herald.'
Looking to the future, Caolan is hopeful that he can spread his wings a little and try a multi event in the next 12 months. He has his eyes set on a heptathlon, which consists of the 100m, Shot Putt, Long Jump, 800m, Javelin and 200m. Of those events, Caolan is quietly confident that he could do well in the shot putt while he admits that the javelin is the one event that needs a lot of work.
His running times and jump distances certainly would leave the St Michael's student in a strong position in the other events. His personal best in the 400m is 52.5, in the 200m it is 23.07 while in the long jump he has jumped 6.39m and in the triple jump he has hopped, skipped and jumped his way to 13.05m. There is no doubt that Caolan is a seriously talented athlete and could make a real impression in a multi event but for the time being he is happy just to enjoy his athletics and see where it takes him.
"To be honest, at the minute I am just enjoying the training and the competing. I want to stick at athletics for as long as I can and it is definitely something I want to continue on to university, anything after that will be a bonus."
Although something tells 'the Herald' that Caolan will want to compete and more importantly win for as long as he possibly can.
