Due to a Boxing Canada boycott, Tammara Thibeault will not have the chance to defend her title at the World Championships in New Delhi next month.
Faced with a fait accompli, the boxer from Shawinigan relies on the choice of her national federation. “I respect the federation, it’s the decision it made,” summed up Thibeault on Friday.
“It is sure that every athlete wants to participate in the World Championships. It’s an important competition, but it’s really out of my control,” she added from Bulgaria, where she will kick off her season next week as part of the Strandja Memorial tournament.
The 26-year-old pugilist, gold medalist at middleweight in Istanbul in 2022, prefers to put her energies on what she considers essential this year: her qualification for the Paris Olympic Games in the summer of 2024.
“It’s in 17 months, it happens quickly. My main focus is on the Pan Am Games [pour la qualification olympique]. »
“I don’t fight for the money”
Boxing Canada announced this week its decision to boycott the Women’s (March 15-26) and Men’s (Tashkent, Uzbekistan, March 1erto May 14) to protest against the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes and the management of the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The United States, Czechia, Ireland and Sweden will do the same. Great Britain will be absent from the women’s event.
In a statement, the Canadian federation cited “corruption within the International Boxing Association” and its “significant concerns” over “the risks facing the sport and its future in the Olympic program”.
“We understand the implications this decision will have on our national team athletes, and we are working diligently alongside our sports partners to find a suitable replacement tournament to continue to develop our top athletes in preparation for qualifying. of the Pan American Games as well as the Olympic Games,” said President Ryan O’Shea.
Have the national team boxers been consulted? “As athletes, our job is to perform and prepare for our competitions,” dodged Thibeault. Everything that is political, everything that concerns decisions, it’s not really my niche, it’s not part of my job. »
The native of Saint-Georges, in Beauce, prefers to look to the future rather than feel sorry for herself.
“The World Championships are an opportunity to measure our progress against other boxers. I will have other opportunities, like this week in Bulgaria,” she said.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS GERVAIS, LE NOUVELLISTE ARCHIVES
Tammara Thibeault
Yes, I would have liked to defend my title, but I am already world champion, no one can take that away from me.
Tammara Thibeault
The boycott could have a very significant financial impact for the one who also won continental gold and at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year. His victory at the last Worlds, in May 2022, earned him a check for US$100,000 (equivalent to C$128,290 at the time).
“Me, I don’t box for the money, reacted Thibeault. I box because I love what I do. I have a passion for my sport. This is what is important. »
“Hyenas and Jackals”
On Thursday, the International Boxing Association pledged to provide financial assistance to boxers from boycotting countries to participate in the World Championships, considering them victims of “political games” of their respective national federations.
As the event is open, it is possible to register directly with the IBA.
“Decisions to this effect have been taken in a vacuum and do not reflect the views of their athletes, coaches, technical officials and administrators within these national federations,” said the IBA Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer. , George Yerolimpos, in an open letter.
Thibeault certainly does not intend to respond favorably to this invitation. “My job is also to respect my federation. I box for Canada. I understand their decision. I really keep my focus on what I can control. »
The IBA has been suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2019 due to governance issues and the manipulation of results at the Rio Games in 2016. An IOC commission organized the Olympic tournament in Tokyo in 2021.
In December, the IOC reiterated its threat to withdraw boxing from the Paris Games in 2024, challenging the legitimacy of IBA President Umar Kremlev of Russia, known to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In September, the IBA delegates refused to hold a new presidential election, contrary to a decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The extension of an exclusive sponsorship contract by Gazprom, a Russian natural gas company, is also criticized by the IOC.
Kremlev claimed that American and Irish leaders who voted for a boycott were “worse than hyenas and jackals”.
Boxing is still not on the program for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Aware of all these disturbances, Tammara Thibeault nevertheless has her eyes riveted on the Strandja Memorial, the oldest European tournament held for the first time in 1950.
“I’m super happy and excited to get back in the ring. It’s a really good tournament. It’s great for my progression and my development as an athlete. »
The Quebec boxer will try to secure her place for the Paris Games by reaching at least the final of the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, next fall.