Bobsled, Athlete, 2016 |
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Christian Farstad was at the forefront of Canada’s trailblazing bobsled team of the 1990s, in the afterglow of the 1988 Calgary Olympics. He came into the sport from a powerlifting background, with little sprinting experience.
Rigorous training and discipline earned him a position on the team, building on his sprinting skills and utilizing his sled pushing abilities to maximum effect. As a member of both the 2-man and 4-man Canadian national bobsleigh team from 1990 to 1997, Farstad piloted the 2-man sleigh to a fourth place finish at the 1991 World championships in Germany.
Two years later, the 4-man bobsled scored silver at the World championships in Austria. At the age of 22, Farstad competed at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, where he and partner Dennis Marineau finished ninth in the 2-man event. At the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, Farstad was in the 4-man sleigh with Sheridon Baptiste, Glenroy Gilbert and Chris Lori that placed 11th overall.
Upon his retirement the longtime Coquitlam resident moved to the administrative side of the sport and served as a founding member of the Federal, Territorial and Provincial Task Force for High Performance and on the Canadian Olympic Committee. He was also president of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton.