Blue Bombers Training Camp Report | Day 11

Brady Oliveira is forever seeking that extra edge, whether it be in the film room, in the gym, or submerged at the bottom of a pool in Bali, Indonesia lugging around 20 kg dumbbells in a farmer’s walk while holding his breath as long as possible.

Umm… what was that last part about being underwater, again?

There’s a proven science behind this, of course, so let’s make that clear right from the get-go as we pick up on the unique offseason training method of the Winnipeg Blue Bomber running back — an approach that would draw a salute from both the marines and Navy Seals, who regularly use this form of hypoxic training in hardening their recruits.

And it could be said the results are already showing for Oliveira, who after taking a couple days off earlier this week, returned to the practice field on Wednesday to continue attacking training camp. His goal: to be stronger, durable and even more resilient than last season, when he was limited in training camp and then saw that impact him in a slow start which had him rushing for 128 yards through the first three games before finding his form and capturing his second straight Canadian Football League rushing crown.

“It was quite the offseason for me, and I feel really, really good right now because of it,” said Oliveira in a chat with bluebombers.com after practice. “After every single season and going into the next season I try to look back at what we did well, strengths and weaknesses, what I can improve on going forward.

“It was about what I can add in the offseason, what can I take out and what’s not working for me anymore. This winter I wondered if some of the injuries were happening because of all this heavy weight I was lifting. Was putting 650 pounds on my back the right thing to do at this point in my career? I understand heavy lifting is important, but it might have been a little extreme.”

Oliveira and QB Chris Streveler

Oliveira praised the work of Blue Bombers head athletic therapist Al Couture and strength and conditioning coordinator Brayden Miller for their role this offseason and then upped his regimen by focussing more on mobility and the hypoxic training angle during his offseason in Bali where he rejuvenates, trains and continues his work rescuing dogs with his girlfriend Alex Blumberg.

“You’re compromised going under water,” Oliveira explained. “We start on land and do breath work for 30 minutes. That part was pretty unique because from my first session to my last session I held my breath for one minute and 30 seconds and by the end I got to three minutes and 40 seconds of holding my breath on land. After that session we’re into the water for an hour and we’re doing a farmer’s walk under water with 20 kg dumbbells. We might be on land doing burpees and push-ups and then jumping in the water and having to swim or walk with the dumbbells. Your body is compromised and when you’re underwater your body and mind is telling you that you need to come up for air or you’re going to pass out. I experienced lots of that.

“Then the more the sessions went on it was like I was bullet-proofing my mind. It showed me that your body and mind is capable of so much more than you even think. I just kept pushing and pushing and pushing.

“Physically it wasn’t so demanding but mentally it was the hardest thing I’ve done in my entire life in that moment.”

Oliveira rushed for 1,353 yards in 2024 while earning the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award and his second straight Most Outstanding Canadian Player honour. He added a career-best 57 receptions en route to leading the CFL in yards from scrimmage for a second straight season.

Not surprisingly, Oliveira wants more. His drive is elite, as is his desire to be help the Blue Bombers finish the deal after three straight Grey Cup losses.

And he insists all this — the hypoxic training, the mobility classes, the push to be one percent better every day — is critical in helping him find another gear.

“It’s going to translate to football,” he said. “This game is hard. It’s physical. It’s challenging mentally. It’s not for everybody.

“In the fourth quarter and everyone knows you’re going to run the football and you’re gassed and tired and I’ve already had a bunch of touches, well, in that moment I can either fold and come back up for air or I can keep my mind calm and get over those hurdles.

“That’s what I learned in the pool — it allowed me to be present and visualize under water. I found calmness and peace under the water. I found myself visualizing football in those moments — certain plays from last season, the Grey Cup.

“It’s my love. I absolutely love this game and I’m not going to stop trying to get better.”

FYI: The Blue Bombers released seventh-round draft pick Trey Laing, a DE from Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. He reported for rookie minicamp was on the field for one practice and then left for personal reasons. Head coach Mike O’Shea: “As of right now he’s not coming back, and we could use the (roster) spot. I expected him to go home and take care of what he needs to do.”… OL Micah Vanterpool saw his workload increase at guard on Wednesday alongside left tackle Stanley Bryant and centre Chris Kolankowski… Not practising on Wednesday were receivers Gavin Cobb, David Wallis, Jerreth Sterns, DB Josh Hagerty and Ethan Ball while DT Cam Lawson and DB Jake Kelly are still recuperating from surgeries… With some receivers down, the club added Canadian Nico Kwemo of Queen’s. The 6-2, 205-pound receiver had 34 receptions for 452 yards and two TDs in 10 games for the Golden Gaels last year and attended the CFL’s Invitational Combine in Waterloo this spring but was not drafted.

NEXT: The Blue Bombers will be practising Thursday from 8:30-10:40 a.m. at Princess Auto Stadium. All sessions are open to the public unless otherwise indicated.