It was during the Canadian Bowling Championship, presented at the Laurentian Lanes hall in Montreal, that Rioux welcomed her new status as an immortal in this sport. It was in the company of her parents, Marcel and Jacynthe, as well as her partner Alain, that she was able to savor this moment.
“When I received the letter from the federation, I had to reread it four times. I was very honored, but that was a few months ago. In my head, I had time before January to get the idea. So when I was contacted again with directions for the day, it started to come together. It was truly a wonderful day filled with love, gratitude, joy and emotions. I was returning to my second family in this place. I saw people again that I had seen several years ago,” said the 48-year-old woman.
Selected for the Canadian team 17 times in 18 attempts, Rioux began her bowling career late at the age of 17 with her parents in a Friday night social league. As the expression goes, she “fell into the pot” from there and worked her way up the ranks, finally arriving at her first national qualification at age 23.
Isabelle Rioux (center) was inducted into the Canadian Bowling Federation Hall of Fame last Tuesday. (Canadian Bowling Federation)
“I got into it. I always loved competing and had some talent. I decided to develop it. People took me under their wings. It really was a superb climb.”
It was in 2000 that she took part in her first World Championship in the Dominican Republic. It was there that she saw the level that it required to rub shoulders with the elite of the planet. Redoubled in her ardor, she took three years to rework her game, her technique and her consistency with her coach and husband, Luke Doucet.
“After these three years of work, I returned to the Canadian Championship in 2003. From that year to 2021, there is only one year where I did not make the Canadian team.”
Along the way, she has signed several podiums at various events.
The most notable achievement of her career, however, remains this silver medal acquired as a trio during the 2013 World Championship with her teammates Samantha Wong (Alberta) and Caroline Lagrange (Montreal).
“We finished in 2nd place behind South Korea by only two pins. It was a heartbreaking defeat that happened on my partner Caroline’s last throw. To finish at this rank, behind a professional team that lives and practices together in addition to counting on millions to train while we trained when we could through pain and misery through our work, it was special. »
Persevere despite grief
During her career as an international athlete, Rioux faced an ordeal of great sadness when her husband and coach died of illness in 2015. At the time of her death, the Pan American Games in Toronto were in eight weeks from their kickoff.
Grieving, the Trois-Rivières woman considered for a time stopping everything following Luke’s departure, but the promise she had made to him encouraged her to move forward.
“I had to decide if I continued my journey alone. It was different. I wondered if I was going to be able to. I had doubts. The people around me really encouraged me to persevere. However, I would say that he was the one who forced me to continue. When he was in the hospital before he left us, he made me promise to go to the Pan American Games where I was selected, no matter what happened to him. I kept my word. It was a very special experience. Perhaps this is what led me to move forward a few more years and I was able to experience other successes. I was very happy with it. It was worth it.”
It was finally in 2021 at the age of 43 that Rioux announced his retirement from the Canadian bowling team after 17 years playing there.
“I was there at that moment. During those years, it was sometimes heartbreaking during the summers when I was indoors practicing. I trained all year round. I’m getting my act together today!”
The one who has worked for the CIUSSS de la Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec for 22 years is certainly very busy with her job in human resources, but she still plays twice a week in addition to continuing to take part in a few tournaments. which are close to his heart here and there. She does not hide the fact that she is keeping the door open to the idea of possibly making her place on the Canadian senior level team in the future or being a coach.
