The athletes participated in the event, not to represent Canada, but the flag of Quebec. For head coach and Olympian Nadine Rolland, this trip represents the realization of a childhood dream.
“I said to myself ‘it would be extraordinary if we could offer Quebecers the sporting autonomy to go on an international stage’”, expresses Ms. Rolland, who is also founder of the sports club with Rugby player Frédérick Asselin.
The School Olympics are not only focused on performance, but rather on the promotion of sporting values, such as team spirit and mutual aid. And even if the swimmers were not in Bahrain to win all the races, the Quebecers managed to leave their mark in another way and won the sportsmanship medal (Fair Play Award).
After noticing that the swimmers from Malawi did not have competition swimsuits, swim helmets or goggles, the Quebec swimmers did not hesitate to offer them their equipment.
“We gave them something they didn’t have and it was really gratifying,” says Mathilde Roesch.
The next edition of the School Olympic Games will be held in 2026, and already, several Otters want to recreate the experience.
“It’s an incredible story that is beginning. In the end, we don’t know where it will go, but I know that it will continue for other generations of young people,” says the general director of the sports club, Mr. Asselin.
See it in the video.
Belgium
