Five-time medalist at the recent Tokyo Paralympic Games, swimmer Aurélie Rivard is ready to resume training quietly next week, but no way for her to think about Paris 2024.
“It will be almost three months since I returned from the Games, it’s time to resume training, said Rivard, Thursday evening, during an interview during an evening celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Claude Raymond Fund,” in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. The last few years have been mentally difficult, with the pandemic and the one-year postponement of the Tokyo Games. For the moment, I don’t even want to think about the Paralympic Games in Paris, in 2024. ”
At only 25 years old, Rivard already has 10 Paralympic medals, including five gold. Thursday evening, like the other guests at the evening, the swimmer also received a brand new medal bearing the effigy of Claude Raymond.
Photo AGENCE QMI, BENOÎT RIOUX
Aurélie Rivard and Claude Raymond proudly posed this Thursday, November 25, 2021 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, during an evening celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Claude-Raymond Fund.
“The value of a medal is up to each person to determine when they receive it,” she said, smiling.
Confidence injection
Reflecting on her past, marked by this shy young girl and lacking confidence with this handicap in her left hand, Aurélie Rivard agrees that this commemorative medal is well worth gold medals.
“Everything Claude Raymond has done for me is incredible,” she testified. He supported me financially, but above all emotionally. With Claude, I knew that no matter where I was in the world, no matter what was going to happen, I was going to have his support and that of my community. Not only was the Claude Raymond Fund the first organization to support me as an athlete, but my performances were also recognized with a value similar to those of others … We made no difference with my handicap in the face of those who don’t.
“We need more people like Claude in life,” added the swimmer. It has contributed to the athlete that I am, but also to the woman that I am now. It gave me the confidence to continue to perform. ”
“Like our children”
Aurélie Rivard has been named female athlete of the year seven times by the Claude Raymond Fund since 2012. She is one of the many people in the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu region, whether in the sporting, artistic or scientist, having been helped by the organization bearing the name of the former baseball player and whose co-founders are Jacques Trahan, Louis McNulty and the late André Dion.
“All those to whom we gave money and all those whom we honored, they have become like our children,” said Mr. Raymond, with pride.
“Claude Raymond has always been there for me, even for carpooling, corroborated Rivard. Even today, he calls me to my party. ”
Going through the whole range of emotions when celebrating the 50 years of the Claude Raymond Fund, the 84-year-old man, still in great shape, concluded with a wish.
“I’m good at getting to 100 years old, but when I’m gone, I hope it will continue,” he dropped.
Charles Dubuc: ambidextrous firefighter
Drafted by the organization of the Montreal Expos in 1998, the former pitcher Charles Dubuc was kind enough to go back to his old memories, Thursday evening, during a meeting held at an evening celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Claude Raymond Fund in Saint- Jean-sur-Richelieu. He was one of the many former scholarship holders present.
Photo AGENCE QMI, BENOÎT RIOUX
Now working as a firefighter in the City of Granby, Dubuc was once recognized as an ambidextrous pitcher. He remembers very well that time, in the late 90s, coach Richard Émond, then with the Baseball Academy of Canada (ABC), sent him to the mound during an event. attended by several scouts before returning him to the hill the next day.
“The scouts wondered why the coach was using me on two consecutive days, but I threw from the left the first day and the right the next day,” he recalled, laughing.
It was at this same time that the athlete from Iberville received invaluable assistance from the Claude-Raymond Fund, elected male athlete of the year in 1997.
“With the costs to play baseball, especially at the ABC, the Claude-Raymond Fund has helped me a lot,” admitted Dubuc, who grew up in a single-parent family. Beyond money, Claude was also a mentor for me, a model to follow. ”
At peace with baseball
Speaking of his own baseball career, Dubuc played for two seasons in the rookie league, with the Expos, in 1999 and 2000. It was during the days of the Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore, among others.
A tear in the labrum, however, cut short Dubuc’s hopes for a career in professional baseball. The one who had perfected himself as a left-handed pitcher then admits having been without touching a ball for years.
“I have lived beautiful times. Obviously, my injury was difficult for my journey, but I am totally at peace with that today and I am happy with the life I have now, ”concluded the 41-year-old.
As for the City of Granby, it can now boast of having an ambidextrous firefighter.