CALGARY | For the first time in the World Cup, Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu has the chance, this weekend in Calgary, to skate in front of his greatest admirer.
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A master’s student in agronomy at Laval University, Vicki Clouet-Côté enjoys a more flexible schedule and was able to fly to Calgary on Wednesday to see her man in action for the first time on the circuit of the World Cup.
Wearing the cowboy hat that Gélinas-Beaulieu had won by virtue of her bronze medal in the 1000m last Sunday, the former rugby player was in the front row on Friday to attend the performance of her lover, Laurent Dubreuil and Christopher Fiola, who took the third step of the podium in the team sprint. She had also attended, earlier in the day, the 1500 m.
“It was unreal,” she says. I, who usually scream so much when I attend his competitions in Quebec, I was frozen. Antoine couldn’t find me in the stands because I was quiet, but he found me after the race. I would have liked to be in his place on the starting line, but there was nothing I could do. »
expected time
The master’s student had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
“I was quite envious of his parents who had the opportunity to go see him,” she says. They sent me videos. I had an exam on Wednesday morning and I rushed to the airport in Montreal where Antoine’s mother was waiting for me to pick up our dog. We have a large group of Antoine supporters and I am their representative at the weekend. It is important that I share these moments so that everyone can experience them. »
Clouet-Côté has been thrilled with her experience since she set foot in Calgary.
“The whole speed skating community surrounds me, Antoine’s community,” she explains. That’s nice to look at. I live with Hamish Black, a former teammate of Antoine and who is a friend. »
Gélinas-Beaulieu is just as thrilled by the presence of his wife at the Olympic Oval.
“It’s amazing that she’s here. It’s the fun to skate in front of those we love and to share these moments. »
Teamwork
In a relationship since 2015 and now married, Gélinas-Beaulieu and her better half motivate each other.
“We dreamed together that Antoine would take part in the Beijing Olympics and that I would study agronomy,” says Clouet-Côté. I liked animals, but I was not very good at school. Antoine convinced me to study agronomy and I adopted his rigour. I finished my baccalaureate and obtained a scholarship for the master’s degree. We pushed each other. It was difficult at first, but our efforts paid off. »
In front of her screen, Clouet-Côté fully savored her husband’s first individual World Cup medal last Sunday. She also learned to live with her husband’s asthma attacks.
“It proves that the good guys can win. He practices his sport for the right reasons and with sound ethics. He’s had several rocks in his shoe over the years and he deserves to be in the spotlight.
“As for his asthma attacks, he perceives the symptoms and he is able to face them, to continue the former rugby player. I know he won’t take any risks and he is more and more well surrounded. »
The embarrassment gone, Clouet-Côté and Black promise a surprise, Sunday, for the 1000 m.
“This taste for dressing up for Antoine’s races comes from rugby where disguises are popular,” she says. I didn’t do it on Friday because I was alone, but my costume is ready for Sunday. »