CANMORE, Alta. — Johnny Forward lives each day to the fullest because he knows how precious life is.
Forward, a native of Corner Brook who now resides in Canmore, Alta., will represent Canada at the 2011 World Winter University Games in Erzurum, Turkey.
In the summer of 2007, he had a brush with death after being hit by a van while crossing the street in his hometown.
He was struck from behind and he never knew what hit him. He spent time in a coma and had his skull fractured in two places.
Miraculously he came out of the coma, and slowly worked himself back into top physical and mental shape.
Amazingly, in February, he is going to share the spotlight with some of the world’s best biathletes.
“I’m lucky to be alive, let alone be able to finish my university degree and be able to compete physically in a higher level of sport,” he said.
He takes nothing for granted. He knows all about life delivering devastating blows and tragic loss.
“I certainly appreciate life a lot more. I make sure I work for everything I have,” he said.
Upside down again
While he recovered nicely from the accident, the 24-year-old graduate of Regina High School had his world turned upside down again in 2008. His 20-year-old sister Amanda Forward was killed Dec. 18, 2008.
His sister, a university student with a zest for life, died in a car crash while coming home to Corner Brook from St. John’s where her family anxiously awaited her arrival.
Rebecca Drover, the driver of the car Ms. Forward was a passenger in, was sentenced to 22 months for the fatal crash which seriously injured two others.
Not a day goes by that Johnny doesn’t think of his sister.
“She’s the reason why I make sure I’m enjoying myself and living life because, tragically, she can’t anymore,” he said.
“I just feel like I have to step up and live life for her.”
Getting the call confirming his spot on the eight-member biathlon squad was a great day for a young man who has overcome much more than the rigours of a back-country ski trail or a missed target or two.
“I’m extremely enthusiastic,” Forward said. “It’s exactly what I was looking for this year. Super jazzed ... when I heard the news I danced and I was having a pretty good week.”
The son of John Forward and Gail Langdon developed a passion for biathlon while involved with the cadet movement as a teenager in Corner Brook. He graduated from Augustana University in Camrose, Alta. — the only university in Canada with a biathlon team — last year.
Right now his life’s focus is on training at the Canmore Nordic Provincial Park, where he is operations co-ordinator at the Bill Warren Centre, so he can accomplish the goals he has set for himself in Turkey.
“I want to shoot an average of 80 per cent while I am there and have a strong personal showing,” he said. “I want to be prepared for every race and make them good. Make sure that I’ve done the most I can to prepare for the races.”
