Every athlete that I had the opportunity of interviewing this year has inspired me in so many ways. This athlete is no different and is the perfect end to 2017. Our Athlete of the month for December is none other than one of our very own Edmonton Eskimos. #36 - Aaron Grymes.
WD: Let’s go way back, how did you get started in the sport?
AG: I started playing football when I was about 8 years old. Originally I thought I was gonna be a baseball player because it was the first sport I started playing. Both of my older brothers played baseball and my dad coached us. I started to get interested in football shortly after I started baseball and played it because a lot of my friends played. I grew up in a sports household and we played sports just about year round. As I got older I started taking more interest in football and baseball was getting kind of boring for me. After my freshman year of high school I stopped playing baseball and focused just on football.
WD: Was your family supportive of your decision to join the Eskimos?
AG: My family was very supportive of my decision to come to the CFL. They knew my whole life that i wanted to play sports for a living. So once I finally got an opportunity to do just that, they were just as excited as I was. Even after I signed late in this season they were calling me and congratulating me on my return to Edmonton. I love it here and so does my family.
WD: What is one of the most challenging thing you face when it comes to football?
AG: The most challenging thing for me is definitely having to spend time away from my family during the season. My wife and daughter
make it up here for most of the games, but don’t stay here the whole season. I always feel like
I’m missing out but they support me to the fullest and make it easier to be gone for months at a time.
WD:How many times a week do you train/practice?
AG: During the season I am either training, practicing or recovering every day of the week. If I’m not practicing or watching film, I’m in the weight room trying to stay healthy all season long. When I’m not doing that I’m getting in the cold and hot tubs, or in the normatec boots to help my recover. So I usually do something every day during the season. The off season is when it slows down for me. I take a couple weeks off after the season. Then start back up with workouts about 3 times a week for a couple months. After that I’ll train 4 days a week for another month or so. And about 6 weeks before camp starts i start going back to 5 days a week to make sure I’m in the best shape possible.
WD: That sounds like an amazing training regime to stay in phenomenal shape. So, in the world of football, is there someone you idolize?
AG: I idolize too many people to name just a few. My older teammates have always been guys I look up to the most though. I’ve been blessed to have some great teammates who have helped me make my transition to being a pro athlete
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
AARON GRYMES