Sherbrooke resident Marie-Ève Chrétien has been training for several months to participate in a world triathlon championship in Slovakia in May 2025. She will complete… a sixteenth, perhaps a seventeenth triathlon in ten years. She invited athletes to sweat with her during a day of activities on Friday at the sports center of the University of Sherbrooke (UdeS).
Don’t give up!
On her stationary bike, Marie-Ève Chrétien pedals at full speed, encouraging the thirty people who came to sweat with her to do the same. In the dark, under a disco ball, she leads a spinning class.
She wants to pass on her passion for cycling, but also for sport, her lifestyle
. She has many triathlons under her belt, so many that it’s difficult for her to say exactly how many.
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Around thirty people took part in the course, some virtually.
Photo : - / Alexandra Duchaine
I stopped counting. For ten years, I have done it, I would say… More than fifteen
she said, thinking.
In Samorin, Slovakia, she will have to complete 1.9 km of swimming and 21 km of running. Her partner, Fiona Grenon, with whom she organized the day of activities, will get on her bike to pedal a distance of 90 km. The duo will take part in a half-long distance relay event for amateur athletes.
The two women qualified during the first edition of the Challenge Cap Québec, to the great surprise of Fiona Grenon, who has been training consistently and seriously recently. In his native village, Val-Paradis, there were few sports infrastructures and inspiring models. I was an active person, but not athletic.
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Fiona Grenon (left) and Marie-Ève Chrétien (right)
Photo: - / Joël Provencher
When we received the invitation saying we had qualified, I thought it was a spam…I didn’t believe it was true.
The triathletes will be accompanied by three other Quebecers who will represent Canada.
“It’s super exciting,” continues Fiona Grenon. We couldn’t say no. I couldn’t miss such an opportunity which will happen once in a lifetime. »
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A weight training session, a nutrition conference and a running workshop followed the spinning class on Friday. The event aimed to finance the overseas stay of the five athletes and raised $450.
Photo : - / Alexandra Duchaine
“There is excitement, a little level of stress too which is good, because I have to train and that leads me to push the level of training and performance a little more. »
Time for yourself when you’re a mom
Marie-Ève Chrétien owns a company that offers online training and conferences on sport and health. The one who has also been a spinning instructor since 2003 at the sports center of the University of Sherbrooke is fueled by adrenaline. In the coming days, she will travel to the United States to run 5, 10, 21 and 42 km… in four days.
She struggles to explain why she enjoys taking on endurance events, like triathlons, so much.
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The University of Sherbrooke allowed Marie-Ève Chrétien and Fiona Grenier to rent a training room at a low price. They both work there.
Photo : - / Alexandra Duchaine
It’s hard to explain what you’ll find, but there’s something about it that’s immensely satisfying, besides feeling like you’re surpassing yourself.
I started doing this because otherwise I wasn’t taking time for myself. Being a mom, I told myself it was worth it.
It was my time. My exercise time. It started with an hour, and at some point it escalated, she explains. NOW, [mes garçons] are involved in my training, and we hope that it will make athletes later!
These two young sons came to move with her on Friday.
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Relatives, customers and sports fans came to support the two athletes on Friday.
Photo : - / Alexandra Duchaine
The two Sherbrookoises and their partners have already solicited businesses and are planning other fundraising activities to raise the $10,000 needed for their departure to Slovakia in the spring.
