“Alex has impressed me his entire career. I am proud of him. Pierre Harvey, inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, was touched to see his son in turn become an immortal of Quebec sport on Wednesday evening.
A warm atmosphere reigned between the walls of the Anjou Metropolitan Golf Club on the occasion of the 30e Hall of fame for the Sports Hall of Fame. Nearly 400 people put on their 31s and braved the cold of November to come and applaud the new inductees.
The latter are former Canadian founder Alex Harvey, boxer Lucian Bute, Olympian hockey player Caroline Ouellette, former Montreal Canadiens captain Guy Carbonneau and cyclist Marie-Hélène Prémont, as well as builders Sonia Denoncourt, first woman to have received a certification as an international referee from FIFA, and Tom Quinn, who has worked in various sports organizations.
At the cocktail party before the Gala, there was something inspiring about the portrait: Alex Harvey, about to be immortalized, standing next to his father, Pierre Harvey, inducted 20 years ago.
The two men, who enjoyed a prolific cross-country skiing career, had something to smile about.
“It is a great happiness for me to see that Alex had as much fun as I had in the sport, mentions the father to Press. It’s not that I pushed him, it’s that he chose that. It always impressed me to see that on his own, he pushed even further than me. He did better than me, that’s a source of pride. ”
“It’s good to be able to share this with [mon père] this evening, underlines his son. When I started to compete I knew that[il] had had a great career, but when I started out, I didn’t aspire to a career as great as his. I didn’t even win medals at the Quebec Games. I was good, but I was not among the best in Quebec. ”
“It wasn’t something I necessarily dreamed of [d’être intronisé], he recalls. To have been able to climb these stages and join him in the Pantheon, it’s special. ”
Pierre Harvey, who was the first Canadian to compete in the Summer and Winter Olympics the same year in 1984, has never attempted to interfere in his son’s career. He followed him, encouraged him and let his own experiences live.
“I am convinced that if I had been too behind him, he would not have done so well,” he says.
A privilege
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Former boxer Lucian Bute and his family
Former boxer Lucian Bute, who filled the stands at the Bell Center during his career, was accompanied by his wife and two children Eric, 3, and Ema, 5, elegantly dressed for the evening.
“It’s a great honor for me,” he suggests. When I arrived here in 2003, I was a young boxer from Romania who spoke neither French nor English. I’m honest: I didn’t even know the Sports Hall of Fame existed. I learned it afterwards. ”
At the time, he had only one thing in mind: to become world champion. Which he achieved four years later, at age 27. The one who was nicknamed “The Tombeur” defended his belt nine times thereafter.
When I arrived here it was very new to me. But over time, I adapted. I went to school to learn French. I integrated, Quebec gave me everything I am today with its support. I went to sell 20,000 tickets at the Bell Center. I am very proud of what I have achieved.
Lucian Bute
“It’s a privilege [d’être intronisé], he continues. I never thought I would get here. It touches me a lot, it’s extraordinary. ”
Caroline Ouellette has also had a remarkable career in women’s hockey, playing for Team Canada for 16 years and winning four gold medals in four appearances at the Olympic Games. At the Sports Hall of Fame, she joined other great hockey players such as Kim St-Pierre, Danielle Goyette and France Saint-Louis.
“It is truly a great honor to join so many wonderful athletes from Quebec, many who inspired me during my youth or even in my adult life,” she recalls.
“There is nothing else I would have liked to have done better than playing for the Canadian team for 16 years. It was the greatest privilege. Now I’m happy to have come to a point where I can feel so much happiness teaching my sport and passing it on to young athletes who adore it as much as I do, ”says the now assistant coach of the Stingers. of Concordia.
A “different hug”
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Guy Carbonneau
Guy Carbonneau, who scored 663 points in the National Hockey League and won three Stanley Cups, was also flattered to be part of the inductee squad on Wednesday.
It’s a bit like the Hall of Fame [du hockey] ; you don’t start your athletic career thinking about going into it one day. It is always a little velvet. It’s a different hug.
Guy Carbonneau
When asked if, 21 years after his retirement, he has achieved all he has accomplished on the ice, Carbonneau lets out a small laugh.
“There are times in a day, a week or a year when it seems like it clicks a little more,” he says. […] While you’re playing, it goes by so fast that you don’t have time to really realize what’s going on. It is only afterwards that you are able to rethink what you did, and even still… ”
” It’s the fun because you have the opportunity to meet people and it is they who make you realize it even more, he suggests. […] I am 61 years old. I meet 10-year-old children and they recognize me. It’s crazy. ”
Quebec cyclist Marie-Hélène Prémont, who was awarded silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was unable to make it to the Anjou Golf Club for her induction.