‘Taking it year by year’: Damian Warner continuing to compete, but unsure about 2028 Olympics

London's Damian Warner was in the city at the Lifestyle Home Show, where CTV News London's Brent Lale spoke with him about his future career.

Damian Warner is taking his athletic future ‘year by year.’

“After the Olympics in Paris, I told myself that I was going to just check in with myself at the end of each year to make sure that my body’s doing well,” said Warner.

“I’m still loving the sport, still willing to give the time and the effort. My all training is going really well, and I am healthy, and I’ll just keep doing that as the years go on and we’ll see. Los Angeles is a long way away.”

It’s now six months after his disappointment in Paris at the 2024 Olympics where he failed to clear 4.60 metres in the pole vault, effectively ruling him out of medal contention. Warner chose not to compete in the final two events of the competition.

“I don’t know if it’ll ever go away,” said Warner, referring to the disappointment.

“I think it’s one of those things where you invest so much time and energy into a competition and when it doesn’t go well, it’s going to sit with you for a while. What I try to do is I try to learn as much as I can from that situation and try to just get better from it.”

Warner is enjoying spending time with his growing family. His daughter, Olivia, is now four months old, and Theo is turning four soon. He was meeting fans Saturday at the London Lifestyle Home Show, while also looking at options for a new house.

He’s back to training and preparing for this upcoming year.

“We have two World Championships at the end of September, so we’re still a long way away,” said Warner.

“We’re just kind of building ourselves up and trying to improve some of those things so that we could be the best version of ourselves once we get to Tokyo (in September) this year.”

Warner, 35, will be approaching the age of 36 when he competes at the Worlds later this year.

“We have a Commonwealth Games the following year, then it goes Pan-Am Games, World Championships again, so there is a plethora of competitions. It’s just a matter of if I’m willing to give the time and the effort.”

As of now, he said he is fully invested and looking forward to 2025. He will have plenty of competitions to gauge whether he’s capable to being an Olympian in 2028.

“You want to make sure that you’re still able to compete, still able to go out there and represent yourself, your country, your family and your team the best way you know how,” said Warner.

“I feel like I’m still right where I need to be. and it’s just a matter of taking it year by year.”