Snowboarder Sébastien Toutant didn’t need the Olympics to become a big star in his sport on the international scene. But the 29-year-old from Repentigny admits that his gold medal acquired in Pyeongchang gave him even greater notoriety.
Nicknamed Seb Toots, propelled into the spotlight at the age of 13 when he won his first professional competition at Mont St-Sauveur, made history at the 2018 Games by becoming the first Olympic gold medalist in the big jump (big air) for men.
Despite this title to be defended in Beijing, Toutant does not feel any additional pressure and he intends to make the most of his third Olympic experience, aware that it will most likely be his last.
“The Olympics, for sure, it’s a very important, very prestigious competition, said Toutant a few days before his departure for Beijing in a virtual interview with The Canadian Press. They only take place every four years and you represent your country. It’s something I didn’t have the chance to do when I started my snowboarding career – slopestyle, Toutant’s other discipline, made its Olympic debut at the 2014 Sochi Games. .
“Since my sport was at the Games, it had become a dream for me to go there, and winning a medal there was on my list. The fact of having won the medal in Pyeongchang, without saying that it takes the pressure off me, for sure I would like to repeat the feat. »
And this time, he is also eyeing a podium in slopestyle, a competition where he ranked 9 in 2014 and 11 in 2018 after obtaining third place in the qualifying round.
“It would be really ‘cool’ if I succeeded this year. For me as an athlete, winning a medal at the Olympics is already a feat. I will approach these Games with the same mentality, forgetting that I won the gold medal in 2018 and telling myself that I want to win another one at all costs, to deliver the performances that I hope for. Then it will depend on the judges. »
The springboard of the Olympics
Toutant will appreciate his presence in Beijing all the more since his place on the Canadian team was only confirmed last month thanks in particular to his victory at the Slopestyle World Cup in Calgary on January 1st.
In addition to strong competition in Canada, he also had to deal with the vagaries of COVID-19.
“It would have been sad not to have the opportunity to return to Beijing and defend my Olympic title. Everything has been a little more complicated with the pandemic, the cancellation of events. I did not have the same preparation as usual. I was under pressure until the last two competitions, where I was able to offer the performances to qualify. »
When the IOC wanted to rejuvenate its audience by opening the door to new sports such as slopestyle and then the big jump, several snowboarders feared that this recovery of their sport would make it lose some of its identity. Looking back, Toutant believes that everyone came out a winner.
“At the beginning, we were afraid that it would lead to a change in the roots of our sport. It’s really important not to lose the lifestyle that snowboarding can bring.
“But the Olympics remain a huge springboard for attracting an even larger audience. I think it’s give and take and it would have been sad to miss this opportunity. It’s a great showcase for athletes and sport, but also a great opportunity for the Olympics to change the situation and rejuvenate its public. »
And Toutant was able to see that he himself benefited from the visibility offered by the Games.
“The more a sport gets seen around the world, the more it makes people fall in love with it. For me, to have participated in two Games and to have won a gold medal, that adds immense credibility as an athlete.
“Before I came to the Games, a lot of people followed me on social media, a lot of young people got in touch with me saying that they started ‘snowboarding’ because of me. For me, it’s very motivating to be a model and even to share my passion with others. But the Olympics made it possible to reach an even wider audience. »
Always so passionate
Toutant will not experience too much of a change of scenery in Beijing since he had the opportunity to compete in a few competitions there, in particular a big jump event at the national stadium, nicknamed the Bird’s Nest.
“It’s a destination that I know quite well, even if it’s not my favourite. But at least there won’t be the novelty effect. »
Since the beginning of his career, Toutant has always liked to push the limits with original maneuvers. But he admits that it has become more difficult to innovate in competition.
“The level is very high, and it’s getting harder and harder to stand out in a big jump by doing something that has really never been done. This is also what I like about slopestyle: the descent with several obstacles, rails and jumps, I find more room for creativity to stand out. »
“It’s important for me to find a way, without necessarily reinventing the wheel, to bring my personal touch, to do something unique. I’m not saying I get it all the time, but it’s something I try to improve every year. That’s why I like to do custom videos through competitions, where there’s a lot of room to show lots of other aspects of your personality on the board, things that you can’t always show in competition. »
Even though he’s been around for fifteen years and, over time, the competitions can become repetitive, Toutant assures us that he hasn’t lost any of his passion for snowboarding. And he knows that other stimulating challenges await him.
“Yes, I have been competing for a long time. But I’m still as much in love with my sport as when I started. If I start competing less, I’ll focus more on the video side, riding in the backcountry, making urban videos, creating a different kind of wave for snowboarding. »
The men’s slopestyle event will be held on February 6 and 7 at the Genting Snow Park in the Zhangjiajkou area. The high jump competition is scheduled for February 14 and 15 at the Shougang site in the Beijing area.