Pierre-Luc Poulin is a discreet Olympian. No one stops him on the street. A new reality for those who have left home for more stability. Between Lac Beauport and the Olympic Basin on Île Notre-Dame, on Highway 20, there is now Paris 2024 as the ultimate destination.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
Poulin is part of a long tradition. That of Lac-Beauport. A breeding ground for Olympians. His Games were first those of Tokyo.
A few months ago, Poulin changed offices. He left the mature trees and trails for the inclined tower and the circuit.
It was 7:30 a.m. when he arrived at the Olympic basin for his training. It was pouring rain.
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, THE PRESS
Pierre-Luc Poulin has two years ahead of him to prepare for the Paris Games.
Drenched, but motivated. It’s part of the game. Poulin and the members of the Canadian canoe-kayak team were preparing their gear in a shelter at the end of the wharf to do their step test. An exercise that is done every two or three months to assess their progress.
A high intensity workout that lasted over 90 minutes. The 26-year-old athlete has achieved conclusive results.
It was the first practice of the day. After lunch, the team would meet in the weight room. Then, after dinner, she would go back on the water for another intensive session, until 4:45 p.m. It’s like that from Monday to Friday.
Change of scenery
Pierre-Luc Poulin would have liked to stay at home, close to his family, because he was “practically born with both feet in Lac Beauport”.
However, the idea of evolving in a high performance environment convinced him. That and the idea of facilitating his studies.
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, THE PRESS
The kayaker is also a finance student.
In the fall, when you have 20 km to do, you’d rather do it around Lac Beauport than do 10 laps of the basin. But in the summer, when you have 5 x 100m to do, the pool is perfect.
Pierre Luc Poulin
In the cafeteria of the training complex, Poulin regains his strength. Scrambled eggs, strawberries and “always crunchy” peanut butter bagel.
The merger makes life easier for this finance student. Before, he did his studies remotely, but when it was impossible, he went back and forth between his home and HEC Montreal. He spent entire evenings and nights on the road after leaving an evening class to arrive in time for his training the next day, some 280 km away. “It was my routine. I have also been passionate about finance for a very long time. »
A positive season
As the Worlds approach in Nova Scotia, Poulin is satisfied with his World Cup season.
He is ahead of his progression curve. This surprises him a little, because on his return from Tokyo, he took the time to do something else. He focused more on his school career and he also wanted to take his mind off things. “Usually, I’m a guy who is really diligent in training, I’m very meticulous. »
Body and mind needed respite. “At the start of the season, I knew that I hadn’t rowed 2000 km this fall. I had rowed maybe 200 km. So there was a nasty difference! »
Especially since for the first time in his life, he was starting a new Olympic cycle. “It’s quite different. »
For 18 years, he prepared for Tokyo 2020. His whole life had been organized around these Games. Today, he has two years left to prepare for those in Paris. “Before, I had never spoken to anyone about Paris. »
Its role is also different. He is now the undisputed leader of this team in a sport where the “C” does not appear on the shirt.
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, THE PRESS
Pierre-Luc Poulin is today the undisputed leader of the Canadian canoe-kayak team.
Work in the shadows
Every time Pierre-Luc Poulin leaves his home early in the morning, he thinks of all those amateur athletes who, all over the planet, arrived at training very early.
In Paris, everyone will be thinking of the athletes for two weeks, but I’m not sure that many people are thinking of the amateur athletes training today. Probably 98% of the athletes who are going to be at the Games in Paris are training this morning at 8 o’clock.
Pierre Luc Poulin
Poulin does not complain about it, on the contrary. Getting up early, not earning a fortune and missing family dinners is part of the job. “There are no sacrifices, but there are choices. If you say yes to that, for real, you say no to something else and move on. »
Also move forward with more lightness, because the pressure has dropped. Poulin is an Olympian. No one can take that away from him or erase the Olympic Rings tattoo on his back. An Olympian through and through.