Face-to-Face with Our Athletes
Get to know our athletes beyond their performance. Who are they? What do they eat? How did they get where they are today? Get some inspiration from our champions.
Aurélie
Rivard
Favourite local food
Québec garlic
Post-training snack
Greek yogurt or protein bar
Favourite local food
Québec garlic
Post-training snack
Greek yogurt or protein bar
Originally from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Aurélie is a real fish. She has won the most medals of all women at the World Paralympic Swimming Championships. At just 28, she is preparing for her fourth Paralympic Games and holds four world records.
Armed with incredible discipline, Aurélie trains 11 months out of the year. Her days begin at dawn, with the alarm clock ringing at 4:45 a.m. and then a smoothie before heading to the pool.
It's no wonder she was chosen as the flag bearer at the Rio closing ceremony, waving the maple leaf high in the air. Keep writing history, Aurélie!
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Kamylle
Frenette
Discipline
Para triathlon
Favourite local food
New Brunswick apples
Post-training snack
Greek yogurt with granola and berries
Favourite local food
New Brunswick apples
Post-training snack
Greek yogurt with granola and berries
This is Kamylle’s second Paralympic Games. Although she has been training seriously for the past 10 years, she has been immersed in the sport from an early age, having watched her father compete in triathlons her whole childhood. She began training at 16, before completing her first Ironman 70.3 at the age of 18.
Because she has to perform for long periods of time, nutrition is key for Kamylle.
After Kamylle finished in fourth place in Tokyo, we hope she reaches the podium this year. Go Kamylle! You’ve got what it takes to go the distance!
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Maude
Charron
Favourite local food
Québec raspberries
Post-training snack
Fruit puree
Favourite local food
Québec raspberries
Post-training snack
Fruit puree
Maude knew she wanted to be a weightlifter at 7 years old. But she didn’t take part in her first competition until 2015, after doing gymnastics and attending circus school.
Maude gives it her all during her events, so she has to make sure she has plenty of energy. In between rounds, she doesn't eat spinach like Popeye, but sips coffee and maple syrup to give herself a little boost, satisfying her sweet tooth at the same time.
With her Canadian records, Maude lifts up the whole country. In the 64 kg category, she lifts more than twice her own weight in the clean and jerk. Her record is 133 kg—equivalent to 22 cans of maple syrup! We can't wait to see how she raises the bar again in Paris!
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René
Cournoyer
Discipline
Artistic gymnastics
Favourite local food
Carrots
Post-training snack
Crudités with tofu dip or hummus
Favourite local food
Carrots
Post-training snack
Crudités with tofu dip or hummus
René took up gymnastics because he was always full of energy and loved doing acrobatics. By the age of 10, he was competing at the national level, by 15 he was competing at the international level, and by 24 he was competing in his first Olympic Games.
René has a little ritual when he competes: he always has an apple with him. Between each apparatus, he takes a bite for energy. To date, the apple has always helped. It also reminds René of where he comes from, the Lanaudière region known for its many apple orchards.
We know he wants to finish in the top 10 in Paris, and to us, he’s already in first place.
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Tammara
Thibeault
Favourite local food
Romaine lettuce
Post-training snack
Protein bar and bananas
Favourite local food
Romaine lettuce
Post-training snack
Protein bar and bananas
For Tammara, boxing is a family affair. She started her career in the ring at age 9 with her brother and father by her side. It didn’t click that she could be an Olympian until she saw a match with two women boxing at the London Olympics. The sport had a huge impact on the woman she would become. It taught her patience and perseverance and helped her develop her confidence.
To honour central Québec Tammara opts for poutine, the pride of her region.
Tammara tied the Canadian record at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She loves training with people, and we know she’ll be in good company in Paris. We wish her the best and hope she knows that whatever happens, we’ll have her in our (romaine) hearts.
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