Elite athletes can make their victories look easy — one can forget the long hours of training and the sacrifices behind every win.
But sometimes it’s not the prowess athletes show while practicing their sport that impresses us, but rather the courage, resilience and strength they demonstrate behind the scenes.
This year’s top Quebec sports stories feature a bit of both, from the acrobatic feats of freestyle skier Mikael Kingsbury to the courage of former Alpine Canada skiers to speak out and protect future athletes from abuse.
King of the Hill
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‘You did win’: Kingsbury’s brother changes words written on poster over Olympic medallist’s bed -
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Three Olympians look to the future -
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Kingsbury knew his experience would provide an edge in freestyle finals -
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Unsure about his future, Kingsbury was determined to win gold in Pyeongchang -
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2018 Olympic athlete Mikael Kingsbury: Moguls king is the man to beat in South Korea
“It is a great honour to receive this award,” said Mikael Kingsbury, who was awarded the 2018 Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year. “I have the greatest respect for the extraordinary athletes who have received it before me.”
Kingsbury, a native of Deux-Montagnes, Que., won Olympic gold at the Pyeongchang Games and dominated the World Cup moguls circuit.
Has boxing gone too far?
“Adonis is a world champion in the ring and is exhibiting that same grit, strength and determination in his recovery.”
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Boxer Adonis Stevenson regained consciousness, three weeks after being placed in a medically induced coma following a knockout punch. Stevenson’s blow to the the head has made it impossible to ignore the dangers of the sport.
READ MORE: ‘Boxing should be abolished’: Adonis Stevenson knockout prompts concern in medical community
The long road to gold
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said weightlifter Christine Girard.
In early December, Girard was finally awarded her London 2012 Olympic gold and her Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medals, after several athletes tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
READ MORE: Canadian weightlifter finally gets Olympic gold medal, 6 years after competition
In with the new
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Shea Weber jokes father’s reaction to being named Canadiens captain -
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‘Not there yet’: Shea Weber on speaking en français -
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Shea Weber says being named Canadiens captain ‘an honour’ -
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Shea Weber describes how he’ll lead team despite injury -
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Obvious choice: Bergevin explains why Shea Weber named captained -
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Shea Weber laughs about being called ‘Dad’ by teammates -
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Shea Weber aware of pressures of being captain in Montreal -
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Shea Weber discusses differences in leading Habs compared to Predators
After a bombshell trade, that saw Max Pacioretty go to the Las Vegas Golden Knights, Shea Weber was named the Montreal Canadiens’ new captain.
READ MORE: Montreal Canadiens name Shea Weber the 30th captain in franchise history
The push to protect young athletes from abuse
In march, four women — Geneviève Simard, Gail Kelly, Amélie-Frédérique Gagnon, and Anna Prchal — who were sexually abused by their ski coach, Bertrand Charest, had the courage to speak out. And now the women are on a mission to make sure other athletes don’t fall victim to sexual predators.
READ MORE: 3 victims of former national ski coach Bertrand Charest suing Alpine Canada
— With files from The Canadian Press
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