Windsor, Ont. - Massimo Bertocchi knelt down on his knees after his gold-medal performance Friday and clutched his tiny grandmother Flaudilla in a huge hug.

Just three years after coaches convinced the Toronto athlete he should try the decathlon, he booked his ticket to the Beijing Olympics on Friday, winning the gruelling 10-discipline event at the Canadian track and field championships.

"That's my family," Bertocchi said, smiling over his shoulder at the excited throng of people waiting to congratulate the 22-year-old. "Everybody came up to Windsor this weekend to support me, about 14 people, it's a big Italian family."

Bertocchi, who took a year off culinary school to focus on the Olympics, won gold with a score of 8014 points, bettering the 8000 points he needed to qualify for Beijing. Jamie Adjetey-Nelson of Windsor, Ont., won the silver in 7787, while Craig Slaunwhite of Terrance Bay, N.S., took third in 7468.

Earlier in the night, Jessica Zelinka of London, Ont., won gold in the women's heptathlon in a score of 6,017, assuring herself a spot on the Beijing team. Susan Coltman of Peterborough, Ont., was second with 5,797, while Jillian Drouin of Corunna, Ont., took the bronze with 5,677.

For Bertocchi, two days of competition came down to the final event - the 1,500 metres. He needed to run four minutes 44 seconds to hit the mark for Beijing, but his personal best was 4:47. He, Adjetey-Nelson and Slaunwhite took turns leading, and Bertocchi crossed in 4:42.42.

"I knew I had it in me to run the 4:42, but it was still crazy for me, I went through all the emotions up and down," he said. "I didn't think I could do it at one point but then I put it together again. I was going up and down all day."

Bertocchi was a long and high jumper when University of Toronto coach Carl Georgevski thought, with his speed and jumping ability, he might make a decent decathlete. Georgevski called in the expertise of veteran national team coach Andy Higgins, who couldn't help but agree.

"The story tells itself from there," Bertocchi said, smiling.

Higgins compiled some scores over the 10 events to help convince Bertocchi of his potential, and he was sold.

"He was pretty convincing in what he was telling me and I was hooked after that," Bertocchi said. "And everything he said I could do, I'm on pace for. He set out something and now I'm doing it, so it's pretty amazing that he knew what I could and I'm doing it now."

His spot on the Olympic team though, still had yet to sink in Friday, as he signed autographs and hugged family members.

"It will hit me tonight," he said.

Georgevski and the rest of his coaching staff weren't at all surprised Bertocchi's headed to Beijing.

"The goal was the Olympic Games and once you set it, you go after it," Georgevski said.

The most exciting part, the coach said, is that he's nowhere near hit his plateau.

"Michael Smith and David Steen were incredible athletes," Georgevski said, referring to Canada's former decathlon stars. "Massimo is far ahead of them at the same stage of development."

In other events Friday, Megan Metcalfe of Edmonton won the women's 5,000 metres in 15:33.55. Metcalfe needed to win the event to be considered for the Olympic team under the "rising star" category, but her fate is yet to be determined.

Andrea Grove took silver, while Erin Maclean of Whitby, Ont., was third.

Ryan McKenzie of Windsor, Ont., captured the men's 5,000 in 13:42.14, while Eric Gillis of Antigonish, N.S., was second, and Toronto's Matthew Bruce won the bronze.

Taylor Milne of Guelph, Ont., had the fastest qualifying time in the men's 1,500 metres, crossing in 3:45.78, while Malindi Elmore of Kelowna, B.C., was the quickest on the women's side in 4:18.47.

World indoor champion Tyler Christopher cruised through his preliminary round of the 400, winning easily in 45.59. And Carline Muir of Toronto was the fastest qualifier in the women's 400 in 53.63.

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