A former 43 -year -old Quebec boxer who touched the back of the barrel in 2019 has embarked on running … rather than running at his loss. And he has never been so happy.
However, happiness was far from living Éric Martel-Bahoeli barely six years ago. An important depression, notably caused by the many blows to the head received in his boxer career, made him sink in the consumption of alcohol and drugs. The bailiffs were also after him.
In short, he was at the bottom of the barrel until 1is July 2019, when he decided that it was enough.
Ironically, it is a period that many remember as a negative that has helped the former Canadian heavy goods vehicle champion to hunt her demons one by one: the pandemic. This world break has not only forced her to leave the world of nightlife, but she also pushed him to make an introspection. Motivated by the motivating speaker David Goggins as well as by the runner and speaker Blaise Dubois, he started running.
What started with a five kilometers (km) a day has become a real passion, which has changed its life. Since then, he has run three marathons and 15 half-marathons, in addition to carrying out the tour of the island of Orleans (67 km) on four times. In 2024, he traveled 2923 km in total.
PHOTO DIDIER DEBUSSCHÈRE
A new mentality
In addition to allowing him to reach an unrivaled level of physical form, even during his boxer career, the race allowed him to find the recipe for happiness.
“My blonde laughs with that, but one of my biggest pride is to get up at 5 a.m. and go running when he saw the sun rise. Before, I slept at that time.
“For me, happiness is in balance.”
PHOTO DIDIER DEBUSSCHÈRE
This positive is also his family, his spouse, Ann-Sophie, and their little daughter, Ali-Rose.
“I don’t remember feeling as well in my life. Even when I was Canadian boxing champion, I didn’t have a balance like that. I am proud and I am good when I speak. I am at peace.
A model
The 43 -year -old Quebecer is now trying to transmit his experience to the youngest. Not for recognition, but rather for, in his own way, to be the model he would have liked to have in his youth.
“When I was young, it took me a model. My father was absent and I was a little half -breed in Quebec. I had Mohamed Ali for a long time as a model and now I also added David Goggins. I will never be at their level, but if I can be a model if only for one or two young people, that’s good, it will be so much the better. But first and foremost, I want to be a model for my daughter. ”
“Boxing built me but, unfortunately, destroyed me. Now I have again become the playful little guy who likes to play outside. I became the real Eric again. “
