Where Brandt Fralick is today isn’t exactly what he envisioned a decade ago.
Still, helping others pursue their own dreams has been both a satisfying and fulfilling endeavour for the former national-class sprinter from Kelowna.
To that end, Fralick and some like-minded partners recently opened the doors to Prime Physiotherapy and Performance.
With eight employees, including three physiotherapists, the new 4,000 square-foot business on Richter Street offers customized treatment for sport and orthopaedic injuries.
On the ground floor, there is a unique, custom gym designed for rehabilitation and physical performance.
Using some of the newest and most innovative equipment—including a curved ball-bearing treadmill—Fralick said Prime is geared to accommodate any age demographic and any physical or rehabilitative need.
“From six to 84, whether you’re a high level athlete or a young person who just needs general fitness, people with knee or hip replacements, or people who have been in car accidents, it’s all here,” said Fralick, Prime’s president and CEO. “If you are elderly and need a place to go and exercise without incredible pain, this is where you find it. With advancements in equipment and technology the sky is the limit to what you can achieve.
From personal experience, Fralick knows all about debilitating pain.
A decade ago, at just 18, he was one of the top up-and-coming sprinters in Canada.
A member of the national men’s team, Fralick had goals of one day competing in both the Olympics and world championships. Then his life took a dramatic turn.
Struck by an impaired driver in 2005, Fralick suffered serious injuries to his back, neck, pelvis and hips. He was told by doctors he would never likely walk again without a limp.
While he defied those odds and raced competitively again over the next three years, he never quite returned to the form he had once known.
So in 2008, Fralick turned his attention to coaching and established Nitro Velocity, a program designed to help athletes improve their speed and explosiveness.
Over the following six years, Fralick’s vision evolved into what is now Prime Physiotherapy and Performance.
While his sprinting ambitions of a decade ago didn’t pan out as hoped, Fralick is more than content with his most recent path in life.
“It’s a fire and passion that never stops burning, it lives inside,” said Fralick, now 27. “Take what you’ve got, start small but dream big…and you don’t have to quit when you hit one bump, everyone has those. It’s just a matter of how many times are you going to keep getting up and keep recreating a new version or new way to make it happen,” he added. “For me the journey didn’t end, it just had to change.
“What I want to see is other people to be the best they can be and realize their dreams.”
Fralick credits the company’s directors, Alisha Kandler, Joel Kryczka and Cody Walsh for sharing his vision and making it a reality.
Former baseball pitcher and hockey player Graham Drope has been paying regular visits to Prime since the doors opened in December.
He’s also been training with Fralick on and off since 2010.
“Brandt has helped me a lot and really reinvented how I train,” said Drope, who currently attends Okanagan College. “All the equipment they have (at Prime) really fits with Brandt’s training philosophies and methods. It’s been really good for me.”
The Prime team: Brandt Fralick, Alisha Kandler, Heather Prevalnig, Deidre Patommel, Jessica Bremner, Marita Goetz, Kailee Grayston, Joel Kryczka and Cody Walsh.
For more information on Prime Physiotherapy and Performance, visit primekelowna.ca.
