The places of Pierre-Luc Poulin, Laurent Lavigne, Nicholas Matveev and Simon McTavish will be confirmed on Monday in the Canadian K4 500m which will be at the Paris Olympics next month. On Saturday, the quartet won the second race of two of three in this event at the Canadian team’s Olympic selections, presented at the Olympic basin on Île Notre-Dame.
Unlike usual, the winners did not go for a long cool-down to recover from their effort at the end of the race. They went to the dock to weigh the boat and then immediately jumped into the arms of their loved ones. Laurent Lavigne took a little longer before going to his family, because his teammates pushed him into the water, so that he could experience the expression “Olympic baptism” both literally and figuratively.
The quartet that represents the country on the international stage signed an unequivocal victory thanks to a time of 1 min 24.751 s ahead of their opponents who covered the distance in 1 min 28.435 s.
The opposing crew was different from that of the day before. Vincent Jourdenais and Brian Malfesi were back, while Alexander Hoferek and Jacob Steele gave way to Mathieu Gilbert and Nathan Koné, both from the Trois-Rivières Club.
“It feels so good! It’s a dream that finally becomes a reality. There was so much effort put into this, so it’s done! » recognized Laurent Lavigne immediately after his race. “I’m not at the end of the road yet and I still have to race there [in Paris], but it feels really good. I am accompanied by three teammates who are already Olympians so I consider myself lucky to be around athletes who have so much experience. »
Pierre-Luc Poulin will be playing his second Games after Tokyo, where he finished tenth in the K4 500m.
“I think there’s some experience that’s come in at the end of the day since the last Olympic cycle. Before Tokyo, I had a last minute injury that I had to deal with. This cycle, it was more about maintaining high performance, knowing what we can do and putting it in place. We’re aligning on that for Paris and I think it’s going to go well,” said the 28-year-old athlete.
This summer, the four qualifiers will also have the opportunity to participate in K1 and K2 races. Lavigne says he would like to take part in the K2 500m with Nicholas Matveev.
“It was with him that I won the first National Trials. We know that we are capable of having a good race,” explained the Quebecer, adding that the K4 will aim for a place in the final (first eight) and possibly a top 5, if it is more ambitious.
Pierre-Luc Poulin believes that his young teammate will be able to bring a breath of fresh air to the boat.
“It’s give and take. We can help guide him through the Olympic experience with what we know and he can bring us a little naivety and novelty in order to keep this Olympic excitement so that we don’t enter too much in the specific and in the performance. You have to enjoy the experience while thinking about performance. It’s a whole and that’s how our team will move forward. »
The Canadian Olympic Committee will officially announce the Olympic canoe-kayak sprint team on Monday. Sophia Jensen (C1 200m) will be the other representative from Quebec who will be confirmed in the Canadian ranks.
The stakes may be Olympic level and the culmination of years and thousands of hours of preparation, but the atmosphere around the pool is unlike many sports. Yes, the competition is present on the water, but for the rest, the good-natured and relaxed character in which the event is immersed is astonishing.
Club tents from across Canada are pitched near the finish line, giving the place a friendly camping atmosphere, without barbecues or campfires.
Many of the athletes warm up for the race, with Crocs on their feet for the youngest and Birkenstock sandals for the older ones. On the banks of the pool, coaches follow the events on often dilapidated bicycles, while young athletes roam the site on scooters or skateboards.
Two or three ponchos and tie-dye sweaters stand out between the camisoles and kangaroos of the clubs. Some participants prefer to take a nap to kill time between two runs or do yoga, under the tent of their club or in the company of their loved ones. Others will browse through exhibitors who not only sell clothing bearing the image of the national federation, but also necklaces and bracelets.
Jewelry probably less flamboyant than those of the crowd present at the car race presented at the same place two weeks earlier, but certainly a more authentic atmosphere.