The announcement on Sunday of the resignation of Daniel Trépanier, high performance director of Boxing Canada, caused a strong reaction. Ariane Fortin, Sabrina Aubin and Myriam Da Silva Rondeau, who are among the long list of athletes calling for her departure, described the news as a “liberation”.
However, the three Quebec boxers agreed that a lot of work needs to be done to restore order in the federation.
Finally, in all honesty … finally! I think healing can begin for many. For my part, I know it won’t bring me back to the Olympic Games, it won’t bring me back to my ambitions. These deep wounds, they exist and it is up to me to heal them. But at least I could make peace with myself, with no remorse for what I didn’t saysaid Da Silva Rondeau on Radio-Canada Sports.
It was a real liberation, many years waiting for the moment. It shows the power of unitysaid Ariane Fortin, Olympic athlete in Rio in 2016 and now president of Boxe Quebec and trainer for South Korea’s national boxing team.
Daniel Trépanier has been notably accused of favoritism in selections for the Olympic Games. She was supposed to be at the Women’s World Boxing Championships this week, but IBA revoked her accreditation.
Like Myriam Da Silva Rondeau, Sabrina Aubin, bronze medalist of the 2018 Commonwealth Games at 57 kg, likes that change has been made ever since.
It’s hard to explain how I feel about this news. My joy is indescribable because we have long wanted this change. I was also angry because he would have done it while I was there, before I was hurt and before we did so much damage to our amateur careers. , coach man or athletehe explained.
Although Trépanier’s departure is considered important news by the three boxers, they believe the cleanup should continue within the federation.
I think we got rid of a bad apple, but there are many more. This is the tree we must cut down to rebuild and start again an organization with competent people in their position and their respective jobs. People who are proficient in boxing, people who want to build a federation with values that put athletes and their welfare first in order to optimize performanceadvanced Aubin.
He’s been building his little empire over the past few years and he’s been a big part of the problem, but all those who worked together and let go of these absurd decisions, the ones who turned a blind eye to everything that was happening and approved of it. method of manufacture is also part of the problemhe added.
Asked about the identity of a candidate who could fill the position, Ariane Fortin had no specific suggestion.
These steps are not made with the intent to put a particular person in place. So, to answer your question, I can’t give you a name right away. There is still a lot to change in Boxing Canada. Daniel’s departure was the first big step. Now, it’s not just about putting new, good people in place. These people need to be given the extension they need to change the way things are donehe says.
Myriam Da Silva Rondeau, who was eliminated in the preliminary round in the -69 kg category at the Tokyo Games, believes that three specific goals must be achieved for things to really change.
All three motions must pass: that Boxing Canada employees and the high-performance program undergo a third-party review selected by the provincial federations, the results of which will be disclosed to all members. The establishment of a national selection team consisting of one member from each province and responsible for writing all selection policies to be used today with an emphasis on competitive results. And finally, to have a vote of no confidence on the Boxing Canada Board of Directorshe says.
The three boxers agreed that this work should be done for the health of boxing in the country and the future of the next generation. They want young people to be able to work in a healthy environment and not be constrained in their chances for success.
All we want is for the Olympic dream to be an option for everyone, for it to be fair and for this nightmare to end.said Sabrina Aubin.
It’s a big thorn that has been removed for many, many people, Myriam Da Silva Rondeau added. Several athletes continued to post their stories until the news broke. We will need to heal the wounds now and apologizing is still a recognized effective way when we make a mistake. that’s what I’m saying. It is better to ask for forgiveness than to live with repentance. Let’s watch out for more!
(With information from Jean-François Chabot)
Source: Radio-Canada
