Flavie Aumond and Victor Primeau hosted the show during the individual jumping events presented on Saturday at the Junior World Championships in Valmalenco, Italy. Just minutes after seeing her teammate take the girls’ victory, Primeau completed the Canadian double by winning the boys’ final.
Posted at 12:08 p.m.
“I think I don’t quite realize it yet! Before arriving here, I knew that the podium and the victory were accessible, but it was necessary to succeed in executing well and I managed to do it when it counted”, commented from the outset Aumond in an interview with Sportcom.
Despite some difficulties encountered in training and at the start of the competition, the athlete from Lac-Beauport did not let herself be distracted.
She first managed to get her pass for the final stage thanks to a good jump for 74.53 points at the end of the qualifications. Then, Aumond put the finishing touches by collecting 86.62 points for his last jump of the day, a mark which earned him the world junior crown in the discipline.
“It was not easy during training and at the start of qualifying, but I did not want to change my strategy, commented the one who had ranked 19and at the Beijing Olympics. I knew I could pull myself together and I was able to respond to the pressure on my second jump. Then in the final I did my best jump to achieve my goal of winning the gold medal. I am really happy ! »
PHOTO BY RÉMI BELANGER, FREESTYLE CANADA
Flavie Aumond on the top step of the podium.
The American Kaila Kuhn (82.84 points) and the Swiss Alexandra Baer (62.37 points) accompanied Aumond on the podium at the end of the competition.
The only other Canadian competing in Saturday’s women’s final, Alexandra Montminy finished fifth with 60.03 points. For their part, Rosalie Gagnon and Charlie Fontaine respectively finished seventh and tenth in qualifying.
Primeau at the top, Nadeau third
On the men’s side, Victor Primeau dominated the race from start to finish to finish on the top step of the podium. Author of the best jump during the qualifying session with a score of 104.91, the Quebecer was the very last jumper to set off in the final, with the world junior title at stake.
The least we can say is that he coped with the pressure brilliantly, going there with one of the “best jumps of his career”, according to coach Rémi Bélanger. Primeau earned 109.20 points from the judges to cap off a day he won’t soon forget.
“It’s going really, really well!” launched the young man of 18 years, still feverish after his last jump. “There was an added stress of being the last to pass at the top of the track, that’s for sure. I stayed focused and managed to do exactly what I wanted. It’s a nice surprise for everyone, including myself, but I knew I was capable. It’s quite amazing! »
In the end, Primeau edged his closest pursuer, American Quinn Dehlinger, by 6.63 points. Not far behind, Émile Nadeau won the bronze medal with a score of 96.72 points.
“I am very happy with the result! Coming back from the Olympics, I had a little more difficult competitions and I felt that I had a little less energy. I thought I had a better mark in the final, but I remain proud of my performance and also of the way in which I overcame the fatigue,” said Nadeau, who took the 17and level in Beijing.
Also in the men’s final, Pierre-Olivier Côté (82.29 points) and Miha Fontaine (66.69 points) had a more difficult end to the race and they finished sixth and seventh, in order.
However, the two athletes will be able to meet again on Sunday, during the team competition, where the maple leaf will be represented by two teams. For the occasion, Côté will reunite with Victor Primeau and Rosalie Gagnon, while Fontaine will join forces with those of Flavie Aumond and Émile Nadeau.
Once again, expectations will be high for the Canadians who will want to end their season in style.