“It went well,” says the 15-year-old athlete candidly, met at the family home. For a first major international competition, it went well!”
Lisé-Coderre won gold on the three-meter springboard and silver on the one-meter springboard. He was registered in class B, that is to say 13-15 year olds.
“I didn’t set out with the idea of winning medals. What I wanted was just to dive well. Telling myself that by diving well, the results would follow. It’s not bad what happened.”
— Claude-Olivier Lisé-Coderre
Because Claude-Olivier takes care not to impose undue pressure on himself. In this era where our adolescents have never been so anxious, we can only agree with his way of seeing things. Medals are not his favorite subject.
“It’s certain that the goal, the dream, is the Olympic Games. I think continuing to work hard is realistic. But we have to continue to work hard…”
Two medals… and surely more to come. (Catherine Trudeau/La Voix de l’Est)
A different life
While carrying out research, the author of these lines realized that The Voice of the East has been writing about Charles-Olivier Lisé-Coderre since he was seven years old. Successes, medals, he has won a ton since.
“I may only be 15, but I notice that the years are flying by. I invest a lot in my sport, I have a slightly different life from most young people my age, but I am happy in it.
After starting his secondary course at Verbe Divin, Lisé-Coderre continued his studies remotely. In Germany he studied. And in Los Angeles, during his next competition in three weeks, he will also study.
“I am still affiliated with the Divine Word in that I go to class for my ministry exams. It still takes a lot of discipline to study this way. I also miss my friends at school sometimes, but I have no choice. But I’m not to be pitied either…”
Because in fact, he considers himself privileged. His sport has still allowed him to see almost all the provinces of Canada, Mexico, Peru, obviously Germany and he is preparing to discover California. He has traveled more at 15 than most adults, even those of a certain age.
“Yes, I am privileged. I work hard, but my sport is good for me. I walk around, I take photos for my friends, I often have big eyes.”
— Claude-Olivier Lisé-Coderre
Obviously, some have already started to make comparisons with Alexandre Despaties, the best diver in Canadian history. We definitely won’t go there. But Claude-Olivier affirms that Despaties is certainly one of the athletes who inspire him.
“I met Alexandre once. It was at the Quebec Games, when I was seven years old. I met him not long ago in Winnipeg, but I didn’t dare go see him and ask him if he remembered me!”
Talented but just as humble, the young man.
