Both Olympic gold medalists, weightlifter Maude Charron and freestyle snowboarder Maxence Parrot were named international athletes of the year at the Gala Sports Québec presented at the Bonsecours Market in Montreal on Saturday.
The competition is fierce this year. Since the Olympic Games are exceptionally contested a few months between summer and winter, the list of contenders for Mauritius in the international category is long.
Maude Charron made her mark in the country by becoming the Olympic champion in the under 64 kg category in August, in Tokyo. The last gold award harvested by a maple leaf representative began in 2012, when Christine Girard was crowned in the under 63 kg category in London.
Charron, 28, won Quebec with his lovely personality and his mission to advance weightlifting throughout the province.
For its part, Parrot is in his third Olympic participation, this winter, in Beijing. He won gold in the freestyle descent (slope style) and bronze in the big jump (big wind). The athlete from Bromont also won the Maurice d’Inspiration de l’année award for his impressive return to competition after beating cancer.
Two other Olympic medalists won awards on Saturday. Long track speed skater Valérie Maltais was named partner of the year for her performance in the team pursuit. Along with his teammates, he is on the top step of the podium in China.
Hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin, Canada’s gold medalist in Beijing, received awards as the team’s sports athlete of the year.
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
