Team Canada volleyball vet returns from shoulder surgery in time for last-chance Olympic qualifier

By Anil Jhalli

So far, the road to Rio hasn’t been very pleasant for Adam Simac, but the Ottawa volleyball player plans to turn that around come Team Canada’s last-chance Olympic qualifier May 28-June 5 in Tokyo.

Simac underwent shoulder surgery in December to repair a torn labrum, missing January’s continental Olympic qualifier, where Canada fell in the final to Cuba in straight sets and missed its easiest path to the Games.

“At first, I thought to myself, ‘This is it. This is the nail in the coffin,’” recalls Simac, who was able to bounce back thanks to support from those around him, especially his wife, former women’s national team player Ashley Voth.

“I feel really good now,” adds the 32-year-old. “I have some really good people working with me.”

If the national team veteran of eight years can return to full form and is chosen to compete in Tokyo, it would provide a major boost for Canada. With Simac and powerful opposite hitter Gavin Schmidt on the sidelines due to injury, the Canadians struggled to find the form that’s seen them rise into the top-10 world rankings.

“It was heartbreaking to lose in Edmonton the way we did,” underlines the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School grad. “But now, we have a chance to go and take care of business. It is within the realm of possibility that we can get one of those spots and head to Rio.”

Simac says he’s been game-ready for a month now. He’s glad to see that the suggested four-month recovery time is holding true, especially with what’s at stake.

“We were really careful with getting everything right,” notes the athlete who’d targeted Rio as the ideal finish to his career. “It is all up to the coaches now and how I am playing compared to the other guys.”

Team Canada is deep at the middle position, so it’s no sure bet Simac will be in the lineup for the qualifier, where Canada can claim one of four available berths (including one reserved for an Asian country) amongst Japan, Australia, China, Iran, France, Poland and Venezuela.

But he says he feels confident he’ll not only be in Tokyo, but also Rio.

“I plan on being on that team, and I plan on helping the team get the job done,” Simac underlines. “It is silly to think otherwise. What’s at stake is a chance at representing Canada at the Olympics and it is something I don’t take for granted.

“It is something that I will truly be honoured to do.”