(Montreal) After moments of doubt and uncertainty ahead of the Tokyo Paralympics, Sabrina Duchesne wanted to take time out last year to take care of her physical and mental health. We have to admit that the strategy has paid off since the semi-athletic 21-year-old is now heading toward the Para Swimming World Championships with renewed happiness for her discipline.
Posted at 2:12 pm.
In Madeira, Portugal, Duchesne will compete in the 100m and 400m freestyle in the S7 class, two events she competed in in Tokyo last summer, beating her best in the process.
“This is my first international competition since Tokyo. I took a good break after the games before gradually returning to training. My goals are simple: I want to lower the scores I achieved in the World Championship exams. We will see if the training was effective last year,” Duchesne explained, in an interview with Sportcom.
“My results in Tokyo were excellent because the preparation was also excellent. We had an extra year of training before the games. I felt like I was just training and my form was really great. It will be difficult to do better than my times in Tokyo,” she added.
At the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Duchesne also won a bronze medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay with teammates Aurelie Rivard, Morgan Bird and Katrina Roxon. In Portugal, Duchesne will be able to focus all her energies on individual races, as she will not be participating in any relay race, due to the new rules set for the worlds.
“The relay in Tokyo was a surprise to me. I didn’t even have to participate and ended up winning a medal. In the worlds all the relays will be mixed (women and men) and with the many changes that have taken place within the Canadian team, it was decided that I should only participate in the individual races. »
big young sister
Sabrina Duchesne is only 21 years old, but she already has a solid track record as evidenced by her participation in the Paralympic Games (2016 and 2021), her bronze medal at the US Paraben Games in Toronto in 2015 and her participation in two finals at the World Championships in London in 2019.
With this wealth of experience, Duchesne is trying to be the best possible ally to the other young members of the Canadian squad who will, for many, experience their first major international competition in Madeira.
“It’s special to be considered a veteran of the team because it wasn’t really that long ago that I’m still a little kid. I try to be there for the new people like the seniors who were there for me a few years ago. I answer all the questions I want to put In secret,” Duchesne notes.
At least 31 athletes, including 14 from Quebec, will represent the maple leaf at the World Championships in Portugal from June 12-18. Duchesne is pleased to see so many of his teammates have the opportunity to experience this competition.
“I am very happy that there are so many of us and I do not think I have seen such a large delegation in my career. It is difficult to talk to everyone, but we never hesitate to encourage each other. The athletes are about the same age as me, so it is easy to make friends.”
The importance of Rouge & Or
Duchesne enrolled at Université Laval in the fall of 2021. Although she had already been training with Rouge & Or for many years, her entry to her BA in Social Work allowed her to participate in university competitions. This opportunity marks a renewal in her swimming career according to whom she will be studying criminology as of next fall.
“I joined the university team in the fall and it helped me a lot, especially since my sister made her debut around the same time as me. My motivation has been at its peak all year long. I feel Rouge & Or is a real family, the training sessions are really fun,” she cheers.
On her return from Tokyo, Duchesne was so honored by the city of Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures that a small party was organized in her honor.
“It was cheerfulIt was a beautiful party and I was really honored. I have always lived in Saint-Augustin and it was the best way back home. I also have my picture by the pool too in the sports complex, which really makes me laugh! proudly concluded.
