Two judokas from Nunavut spent the week in Trois-Rivières training for the Gadbois Cup this weekend in Montreal.
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This is the first time Julian and Azriel have set foot in a dojo in Trois-Rivières.
The two teenagers flew from Nunavut to Ottawa and then drove here. A journey of more than eight hours to prepare for the Coupe Gadbois.
For Azriel, this is a first in Montreal. He has already competed in Edmonton, where he has won two gold medals.
Julian is training for the Canada Games, which begin February 18 in Prince Edward Island. Competitions and training outside of Nunavut are very rare.
The main problem is money.
“Someone who wants to try and go to the Canada Games and [qui doit faire] If we train a lot, we can get the $100,000,” said her judo coach, Tommy-Claude Grenier.
Nunavut sports clubs are torn between providing access to sports for young people and obliging parents to perform at their best.
It is thanks to Sport Nunavut grants and numerous fundraisers that these young people are able to thrive.
“Julian, he’s 6ft2, he just turned 15. It’s not easy having athletes of your level and size, you have no choice but to go down and compete all over Canada. There are parents who can do that, but not all,” added the coach.
“Fighting other kids is much better because we don’t have kids my size in our dojo. That’s why I came here. They’re a lot of fun to talk to,” explained Julian Gissing, this 15-year-old athlete, translated from English.
“There’s some of my weight but the height is different and my age, yes… I’m fighting older people,” added 11-year-old Azriel Tagnigou-Petnkeu.
Their visit is also profitable for the young people of the Seikidokan Club.
“It gives a different background, especially for our young people here. The training they’re doing… It’s a great experience for my youngsters. It’s rare they see people from the outside,” said club manager Jacob Landry.
Win or lose this weekend, Julian and Azriel have a chance to gain experience.