An Olympian stopped in town this weekend to inspire young martial artists on their own Olympic journeys.
Antonie Valois-Fortier stopped by the Hayabusa Training Centre in St. Albert Saturday, hosting a workshop and giving tips to young martial artists.
“We had about 54 people come, so it was really good,” Luke Harris, Hayabusa Training Centre owner and coach said. “They’re learning about Judo and he’s a high level Olympic medallist so learning different techniques.”
Valois-Fortier was a bronze medallist in the 2012 Olympics for judo. He was the first Canadian to win a medal in Olympic judo in 12 years and the fifth to win one in Canadian history. He has also earned two bronze medals, three silver medals and a gold medal in the Pan American Championships. He has a silver and a bronze finish in the world championships.
Harris brought Valois-Fortier to St. Albert for a three-hour workshop to help his students learn new skills from one of the world’s best judo competitors, as well as inspire the young Olympic hopefuls to pursue their own Olympic dreams. At the end of the workshop the Olympian left time to take pictures and sign autographs for everyone in attendance before he had to rush back to the airport.
Valois-Fortier said he wants to share his passion for the sport of judo with the next generation.
“For me, my coach did it in 2000 after he won the Olympic medal. He came to my dojo and it had a pretty big impact on my career,” Valois-Fortier said. “I started competing right after that because I met him. So I am hoping to light that sparkle in these kids in the same way.”
Both Harris and Valois-Fortier say the workshop was an overwhelming success. Valois-Fortier enjoyed teaching some of the judo basics to those in attendance who were less experienced with the sport.
Young martial artist Seth Nobert, who has a half green orange belt, was impressed by Valois-Fortier’s workshop. He says he learned some new techniques but also some mental strategies for competition.
“I learned how to not get stressed before fights,” Nobert said.
Valois-Fortier says that is the message he wants young Olympic hopefuls to take away from his workshop.
“Hopefully I hooked one or two kids to go a bit further in the sport,” Valois-Fortier said. “There is potential on all those kids. It depends on how much they commit. I just try to light a bit of a sparkle in them and from there they write their own destiny.”
