The dust had time to settle for Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard a month after obtaining her title of vice-world judo champion in the under 63 kg category.
A silver medal at the World Championships is fully meritorious, but in judo, this reward is acquired after losing the fight for the gold medal. And it is for this reason that it always takes a little more time to savor it fully.
“I’m really happy with my silver medal. It’s clear (that I think to myself): “Ah, I was so close to the gold medal”, but if I look back at my day, I fought really well and I had so many good comments from the coaches and other athletes. Lots of people told me that it was really fun to watch me. […] I think I savor it a little more, ”explains the athlete, met before training at the Institut national du sport du Québec.
Among the best in the world two years in a row
Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard is an exceptional athlete. Of the Quebec athletes who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics, only two of them made it to the podium again at the following World Championships, the other being rower Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski. Weightlifter Maude Charron is the last one who could join this select club at the worlds which will be disputed in Bogota, Colombia, in early December, where she will make her debut in her new category of under 59 kg.
PHOTO ANNEGRET HILSE, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard
In her honors list, Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard places her most recent silver medal on a par with that of bronze obtained at the Tokyo Olympics. His state of mind before these two major tournaments, however, was slightly different. In Tokyo, she knew she could get a good result. At last month’s worlds, for the first time, she said to herself that she could beat everyone.
“Throughout the day, I felt in my place and I even said it before going to the World Championships: at this point in my career, I am well established in my weight category. »
No arrogance, just a healthy confidence in one’s abilities.
Is this confidence innate or has it been built up over the years? The one who studied at the Saint-Hubert Judo Club laughs before answering.
“It builds on the results I’ve had in the past. I climbed the ladder one by one. »
A long progression
Back in 2014. Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard won bronze at the World Junior Championships. The following year, she finished fifth at the senior worlds. In 2016, it is therefore logical that she imagines herself on the Olympic podium at her first Games. His early elimination in the first round of the under 57 kg table had the effect of a cold shower.
“The Rio Games in 2016 were a big disappointment. I was really happy to go, but suddenly you’re selected, you want more. The way I had approached the Games, I was very focused on the results. I absolutely wanted a medal and I knew I was capable. […] In 2021, I focused a lot more on the process before and how I wanted to feel going into the Games and Games day. And I think that’s what made a big difference. I was able to perform and manage my stress in 2021 more than in 2016.”
The years between 2016 and 2021 were decisive for the future. A series of defeats made her question her sporting future.
“Every time I lost, it was like, ‘I’m no good. Why am I here, why am I doing this?” I lowered myself so much that afterwards, it was harder to go up the slope. There, I said enough is enough! I want to do judo to love it, whether I lose or win. »
This involved a change of weight category: leaving the less than 57 kg and ending up in the less than 63 kg. A world of difference that goes well beyond 6 kg. Either the athlete moved up in category or she stopped judo. His decision was made in consultation with his trainer and his psychologist specialized in nutrition.
“I had to relearn how to approach competitions in another way and also my opponents, because at 63 kg, they are all really bigger than me. It was quite an adaptation. Then, I set myself process objectives instead of results objectives. And with all these little apprenticeships, that’s where I managed to have a more complete Catherine who was ready to get what she wanted at the Tokyo Games. »
The click
Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard continued her journey towards the Games which were originally to be presented in 2020. A year earlier, she had been eliminated in the first round of the World Championships. A defeat that turned into a pivotal moment, she notes three years later.
“I was disappointed and doubting myself. I said to myself: “if I am not able to perform at the World Championships in 2019, how am I going to get a medal at the Games?” I questioned everything. And that’s when I said to myself that if I wanted to continue and perform in the next tournaments, I had to stop questioning myself every time. This is where I started to have more compassion with myself. […] See losing as a way to learn and pick yourself up next time and not just losing. »
In her head, she would fight as if the Tokyo Games were her last.
We know the rest.
On July 27, 2021, she became the first Quebec judoka to stand on an Olympic podium. This day had however started badly, except that this time, she no longer doubted in her means.
“To get on the mat and tell yourself that you really want to win and not not want to lose, that’s a big difference. When you do everything not to lose, generally, it never goes well, ”says the athlete, laughing, while we guess that she has some very specific examples in mind.
In the first round, the Quebecer had the advantage against Denmark’s Laerke Olsen, whom she had defeated in their last three meetings.
“She was well prepared and she blocked all my attacks. My usual techniques weren’t working. I remember freaking out a bit in that fight. Sasha (Mehmedovic, his trainer) was on the chair and he saw me panicking a bit and told me to go on and relax. That’s what I did. I just kept going and ended up knocking her down. »
The athlete took stock with his coach after the clash. “I think that conversation was crucial for the rest of the day because we put the dots back on the i’s. The fight is over, you’ve broken the ice and you’re on to the next one. No need to panic, go ahead and implement your plan. »
In the next round Beauchemin-Pinard faced the Austrian Magdalena Krssakova, against whom she had lost in their last duel. But on the Olympic tatami, the Quebecer only needed about thirty seconds to defeat her. Her only defeat of the day will come in the semi-finals against eventual gold medalist Clarisse Agbegnenou of France.
The fighter was not alone on her journey to the third step of the podium. Antoine Valois-Fortier was in action the same day as her and had been eliminated earlier, except that he remained in the sparse stands of the Nippon Budokan to shout his encouragement to his teammate.
“It was really funny. He was there to support me and it really touched me that he stayed all day. »
A year later, at the World Championships, Valois-Fortier continued to encourage him, but this time in the coach’s chair. The one who retired in December 2021 directs her in competition and also advises her outside the tatami mats.
“I think we make a good team. I turn to him a lot because of his experience over the last few years and how he handled it. »
All the boxes are now checked on her sports roster and if all goes according to plan, she will earn her bachelor’s degree in accounting sciences from UQAM next month. Her balance between sport and studies keeps her both feet on the ground and she intends to keep this recipe with the graduate degree in taxation that she will undertake in the months to come. Once she hangs up her judogi, it will be the Chartered Professional Accountant designation she will be aiming for.
After the Tokyo Games, she had mentioned that she wanted to continue to be a medalist at the World Championships. Now she admits she’s starting to get caught up in the idea of continuing on to Paris.
“I’m comfortable in my weight class and I’m thinking, ‘huh, what’s it going to look like in 2024? … It could do something good!” […] As much as I don’t want to put pressure on myself, it would really be my last Games this time and I’m going there to have fun. I see the names that appear in the rankings and I am in my place. »