Photo credits: Photo courtesy of Samuel Giguère / Radio-Canada / CTV News / IBSF

Q. What was your biggest challenge in qualifying for the Beijing 2022 Games?
A. “The biggest challenge this year was probably dealing with the pandemic. I had to stay in Europe for almost three months this winter with the Canadian bobsleigh team, and we couldn’t go home in order to minimize the risk of contagion. It was very difficult to be so far away from my wife and my two daughters for such a long time.”

Q. What does it mean to you to finally compete at the Olympics after not participating in the 2014 and 2018 Games?
A. “The reasons I was unable to participate in the last two Winter Olympics were unfortunately out of my control. I can’t help it and feel that this should be my third Olympics this year. Things rarely go as planned. That being said, I am very happy to finally be able to participate in the Winter Olympics and I consider myself very lucky to still be able to compete as an athlete in high-performance sport at my age.” [Laugher]

Q. How do you push yourself every day to keep training?
A. “I have never needed much encouragement to keep training. I’ve always loved the preparation process, the workouts, the training sessions, etc. I was also always fortunate to have good teammates that I enjoyed training with and who motivated me to push myself every day.”

Q. How do you deal with stress before a competition?
A. “I like that kind of stress. A little bit of nervousness, fear and adrenaline. It’s a feeling that I love!”

Q. What is the best coaching advice you’ve ever received as an athlete?
A. “One of my football coaches once told me : A career in sports is usually very short. If you’re thinking about practicing bobsleigh later, don’t wait up. Be an athlete in both sports right away! Best decision I have aver made.”

Q. Where is your favorite place to compete?
A. “The commune of St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps, without a doubt! It’s a beautiful place. The mountains, the snow and the sun give a fabulous scenery. It is also the place where the bobsleigh was invented and it is where the only natural snow and ice track in the world is located.”

Q. What advice would you give to young people who want to start a career in sports?
A. “To make a career in sports, you need perseverance, determination and discipline. But you also need to have fun and take the time to enjoy your journey. It is all about balance.”

Q. What do you think is the most challenging aspect of being a high performance athlete?
A. “Personally, as a father of two little girls, I would say balancing family and career is the most difficult aspect. Fortunately, my wife has supported me from the very beginning. I could never have continued as an athlete for so long without her support.”