At 31 years old and after three appearances in the Olympic Games, the hour of retirement has come for judoka Antoine Valois-Fortier who will however remain associated with his sport in a coaching role with Judo Canada.
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After his defeat in his second fight at the Tokyo Games last July, Valois-Fortier said he wanted to give himself a period of reflection before deciding. The 2012 London Games bronze medalist judged the best to be behind him and confirmed his decision at noon Thursday at a press briefing in Montreal.
“I had a good reflection and I came to the conclusion that my performances would not improve, said the three-time world medalist. That’s when I decided to hang. ”
“My goals have always been to win Olympic gold and at the world championship, but I looked in the mirror and I no longer believed in my chances, to continue Valois-Fortier who joined the national team in 2008 by moving to the metropolis. Due to my injuries, my body no longer follows and it was no longer possible to put in the effort necessary to achieve my goals. It’s still a little poop on my heart not to have won at the Games and at the Worlds and I turn the page with a pang in my heart, but I’m really proud to have done my best in good times and bad. I would have continued for another 10 to 15 years, but my body and my mind were telling me to stop. ”
Two highlights
Valois-Fortier identifies two strong moments that have marked his career. “My medal at the London Games was a special moment and will remain so all the time. In addition my parents were present. It was a surprise because I had not yet performed on the international stage, but I was hungry, not shy and confident to compete with the best. These qualities have always followed me. ”
“After two operations (hip and back) and the disappointment of Rio in 2016, my bronze medal at the World Championships in 2019 represents a defining moment in my career, to continue Valois-Fortier who also won silver in 2014 and bronze in 2015. I saw doubts in the eyes of some and in mine too. I proved that I can come back from anything and that made me proud. ”
Important legacy
After his last fight in Tokyo, Valois-Fortier was entitled to the praise of his mentor, friend and big boss of Judo Canada Nicolas Gill who said that the organization would not be where it is now had it not been for performances in London. of the judoka who took his first steps at the Dojo de Beauport.
QMI Agency archive photo, Maxime Deland
What does the main interested party think of the legacy he leaves to his sport? “We will remember my results, but I would like us to remember the human being even more than the athlete. I hope the legacy I will leave is that I was good company and a good teammate in good times and tough times. “
“It is clear that there is an increase in funding for Judo Canada after the London Games and we now have the means to offer optimal development to the athletes,” added Canada is no longer the country of everything. the world wants to face in the first round. “
For Gill, it is clear that the human will leave a greater legacy than the athlete. “Antoine’s human qualities stand out more than his performance. His motivation, his commitment and his seriousness as well as his strength of character which allowed him to overcome obstacles made him an exceptional athlete. Due to injuries and obstacles, his journey has never been easy, which makes his results even more exceptional. ”
Like many, Gill was surprised by the success of Valois-Fortier in London, but he was convinced from the start that his protégé would stand on the podium in the biggest international events. “When and where it’s still difficult to predict, but it was clear very quickly that Antoine was going to win a world medal. I found London a bit early, but the trigger occurred in the winter of 2012. He demonstrated things that confirmed that he could climb on the podium in 2012. ”