2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES :
INS QUÉBEC AT THE HEART OF PREPARATIONS

Following the success of the Olympic Games in Paris in recent weeks, the French capital is set to continue living to the rhythm of high-level sport with the presentation of the Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8.

A number of Quebec athletes will be among the headliners at these Games, and we’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to five Quebecers affiliated with the Institut to keep an eye on over the coming days.

Aurélie Rivard – para-swimming

Aurélie Rivard – credit CPC

Aurélie Rivard needs no introduction: this year, she’ll be taking part in her fourth Paralympic Games, and her chances of adding further medals to her collection are very good.

The Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu native is already a five-time Paralympic champion, with three silver and two bronze medals to her name. She has also been decorated 19 times at the World Para-swimming Championships, winning gold twice in 2023.

In Paris, Rivard will attempt to defend her Paralympic titles in the 100 m freestyle and 400 m freestyle in the S10 category. She is also expected to take part in other events, including the 50 m freestyle and 100 m backstroke, as well as the relays.

In the French capital, Aurélie Rivard will be accompanied by a large delegation of Quebec para-swimming athletes, while Sabrina Duchesne, Alec Elliot, Arianna Hunsicker, Clémence Paré, Tess Routliffe, Abi Tripp, Nicolas-Guy Turbide and Philippe Vachon will also be living the Paralympic experience in Paris.

Alison Levine – boccia

Alison Levine – credit CPC

Alison Levine, a double gold medallist at the most recent Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, will arrive in Paris with high ambitions. At her third Paralympic Games, this would be an ideal opportunity for her to win her first Paralympic medal.

Levine was Canada’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony of the Parapan American Games.

The last few years have been crowned with success for the Montrealer, who won bronze with team-mate Iulian Ciobano in BC4 doubles at the 2022 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The boccia competitions kick off on August 29 with the individual events. The finals will be contested on September 2, while the doubles tournaments get underway on September 3.

Danik Allard will be the other boccia canadian representative in Paris.

Anthony Létourneau – wheelchair rugby 

Anthony Létourneau – credit WRC

After a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, the Canadian wheelchair rugby team is hungrier than ever ahead of the Paris Games. Team head coach Patrick Côté and Anthony Létourneau are unanimous: they want a medal this year!

After losing the final of the Parapan American Games to the USA, the Canadian team had to travel to New Zealand in March to confirm their place in Paris. Once this stage is completed, there’s nothing stopping the Canadians from aiming for a place on the podium.

Anthony Létourneau will be the only Quebecer on the team this year, having also competed at the Tokyo Games.

“Anthony has developed enormously since the Tokyo Games. He’s a true professional and his tactical mind is exceptional. He communicates well with his teammates and with the coaching group. He’s quickly become a leader and I’m convinced he’s one of the best players in the world in his category,” said coach Patrick Côté of Létourneau.

The Canadians kick off their tournament with a highly anticipated duel with the United States on August 29. They will then take on the Germans and Japanese to conclude the group phase.

Élodie Tessier – wheelchair basketball

Élodie Tessier of the Laval Gladiateurs takes on the Calgary Rollers – credit Fran Harris

For several years now, Élodie Tessier has been one of the cornerstones of the Canadian women’s wheelchair basketball team. The 28-year-old participated in the Tokyo Paralympic Games, where the country finished fifth, before winning the silver medal at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago.

The Quebecer was also part of the champion squad at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima.

Tessier also helped Canada secure its ticket to the Paris Games in April, where the Canadians were perfect in four matches.

Three other Quebecers will be representing the country in Paris, including veteran captain Cindy Ouellet , who will be taking part in her sixth Paralympic Games, her fifth in wheelchair basketball having competed at the Pyeongchang Games in Paranordic skiing.

Rosalie Lalonde and Sofia Fassi-Fehri will be the other two representatives from Quebec in coach Michèle Sung’s squad.

Anthony Bouchard – para-athletics

Anthony Bouchard – credit Sportcom

Anthony Bouchard ‘s progress on the international scene has been exceptional over the past two years. At the 2023 World Championships, the biggest competition of his career at the time, Bouchard surprised many by reaching the finals of the 100 m and 400 m in the T52 category.

Then, a few months later, on the track at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, he dazzled the crowds with a gold medal in the 100 m and another bronze in the 400 m.

The Quebec City athlete then confirmed his place at the Paris Games at the Montreal Olympic and Paralympic Trials last June with a third-place finish in the 100 m multi-class.

“Anthony is super smart and wants to be involved in his learning. He’s easy to work with. We had to set new goals quickly in the last few months, he won medals very early in his career and that allows us to dream big in Paris, he works so hard,” said his coach Nathalie Séguin.