Aurélie Rivard had heard the rumors. She didn’t really realize the honor the city of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu had given her until her mother was waiting for her at home about a month ago to have a drink and celebrate the news that the municipality that saw one of the best Paralympic swimmers in history grow up was going to rename one of its pools in her honor.
“She’s the one who officially announced it to me,” said Rivard, reached by telephone by The Canadian Press a few minutes after the press conference during which it was revealed that the swimming pool at the Claude-Raymond Sports Complex would now be called the Aurélie-Rivard swimming pool.
“This is probably the greatest honour that could be given to me,” added the 28-year-old swimmer. “It’s an honour that will last a lifetime. My records are bound to be broken. In addition, it’s linked to very personal emotions. My family came with me here; this is where I met my first coaches.”
“This pool is pretty much my entire youth. I learned to swim here and it was during my free time that I was spotted by a coach from the local club. It’s sports-study, doing my homework here. I spent my entire adolescence at this pool,” she added.
Mayor Andrée Bouchard confirmed the adoption of the new name during a press conference attended by Rivard’s parents and friends, several media representatives and an audience filled with dignitaries, including former swimmer and now president of the board of directors of Parasports Québec, Benoît Huot.
Former Montreal Expos pitcher Claude Raymond was also there. The Claude-Raymond Fund, of which he is the honorary president, is partly behind this decision, which is unanimous within the Montérégie community, on the South Shore of Montreal.
“It became a unanimous desire of the community,” explained Ms. Bouchard. The Claude-Raymond Fund made the request, as did the swimming club. The municipal council was also behind Aurélie. What really touches us is the exemplary nature of this athlete. The fact that she is a Paralympic athlete is inspiring. I think that all the light deserves to be put on them [the athletes]. For me, Aurélie Rivard is a source of inspiration for all young people.”
The change of toponymy will be made official by a resolution of the municipal council meeting on Tuesday, October 29.
Rivard, who hails from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, is one of the most decorated Paralympic swimmers in the world, with 13 Olympic medals, including six gold, in four Paralympic Games, the most recent of which were in Paris last summer. She has also stood on the podium 14 times at the World Para Swimming Championships, including four times on the top step. Her 14 medals are a Canadian record.
She was Canada’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she won five medals, including two gold.
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