At the Tokyo Olympics, Rosalie Boissonneault was the only swimmer from the Canadian squad not to have participated in the Pan American Games in Lima, in 2019. At the age of 18, the Drummondvilloise is already a rare veteran, even a leader on the senior national artistic swimming team.
Posted at 10:25 a.m.
A wind of change has blown over this new Olympic cycle. The word had passed that several athletes were going to move away from competition after the Tokyo Games, including Quebecers Camille Fiola-Dion, Audrey Joly and Jacqueline Simoneau.
For Rosalie Boissonneault, who joined the national team in August 2020, these changes mean a new chapter, a new role and new goals in her career. She and Andrée-Anne Côté are the only ones to have swum in the Japanese capital, while Saskatchewan’s Kenzie Priddell, also back, made the trip as a substitute.
“It was difficult to see everyone leave. I was becoming one of the oldest, it happened quickly and it was a little stressful at the start, ”Boissonneault told Sportcom, in view of the Paris World Series which takes place throughout the weekend.
“There was a period of adaptation, but it happened quite quickly, because it was not a surprise. The new girls have [sensiblement] the same age as me and I’ve been swimming with them for a long time. They are good friends, so it is easy to communicate. »
Quebecers Laurianne Imbeau, Audrey Lamothe, Raphaëlle Plante, Kiara Quieti, Alicia Réhel and Maude Turcotte will live their first international experience among seniors, in person. They competed in the Virtual World Series in March, which gave them a taste of the competition, if anything.
They had been training together for just four weeks when they filmed their routines. According to Rosalie Boissonneault, the progress they experienced jumped out at them during the viewing.
“When we saw the performances, we looked at each other and said, ‘We’ve really made it better than that!’ We’re now on another level. We still have a lot to learn, but we have a lot of energy and we are trying to correct ourselves quickly. »
I don’t put pressure on myself, my goal is to help girls feel the best they can. I’m not trying to bully anyone. Andrée-Anne (Côté) also takes on a big role and is our leader, she has the most experience.
Rosalie Boissonneault
Alone
The Canadian team will take part in the acrobatic event on Saturday in Paris, then present their technical and free routines on Sunday. Audrey Lamothe will also start the technical solo on Saturday.
The youngest swimmer in the group, the Montrealer did not expect to make the leap so quickly to seniors when she watched the Tokyo Olympics last summer. The one who celebrated her 17and birthday in February felt that she was still young and would have to develop further.
“My turn was coming, but I didn’t know in how long,” said Lamothe. She then undertook the national selections in November with no particular expectations. “The more it progressed, the more I told myself that I wanted to see where the process was going to lead. I did it mainly to gain experience. »
Four months later, Audrey Lamothe replaces Audrey Joly as aerialist and prepares, not without excitement, to swim in the City of Light.
“It’s not the same feeling as virtual! You can already feel the adrenaline. I can’t wait to show what we can do after these nine weeks of training. »
The Secondary V student is already looking forward to the presence of judges and spectators, especially for her solo program. In her opinion, it will be easier for her to express her emotions through her gaze and gestures, which was a greater challenge through a camera.
In the area
The rookies can count on the experience and support of the oldest to guide them this season. This includes Olympians who are no longer on the team, but who come to the pool from time to time to help out. Adoptive Montrealer Claudia Holzner holds the position of assistant.
“It’s fun to have your point of view. She has already swum the routines and knows what to correct and how to do it, ”shared Rosalie Boissonneault, hit hard on the return from her first Olympics.
“The Games can represent the pinnacle, the dream as an athlete. It was a bit difficult at first, but I found other goals and since I’m still young, I still have a lot to develop. I’m not at my maximum potential, so it was easy to motivate me. »
All this, without forgetting her new leadership role which has become essential and which is very much appreciated by Audrey Lamothe.
“They’re all really inspiring, it’s fun to swim with them and see that I can improve to be as good. She gives good feedback, I learn every day and it’s really motivating. »
Besides, did Rosalie Boissonneault have any advice before this first appearance on the stage?
“You just have to trust yourself. We have worked hard in the last few weeks and we know our routines. It only remains to do the best we can, ”she said in conclusion.