Laurence St-Germain, gold medalist in slalom at the World Alpine Skiing Championships held on February 18 in Courchevel and Méribel, France, still can’t believe it.
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“I still find it difficult to understand the word ‘winning’,” admits the skier from Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges. For the first two days I said to myself: “Laurence, you’re world champion” and I started laughing because I didn’t understand it. There are times when I’m on target that I still don’t remember what happened. It’s a bit fuzzy in my head.”
With her world title last Saturday, the 28-year-old accomplished a feat that few Canadian women have achieved before her. The last was Anne Heggtveit at the 1960 Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California.
“Honestly, I don’t yet know everything what this means for my future, but it is sure to be a dream come true. It makes me proud, but it’s on my mind right now!”
And this win gives him a lot of confidence for the future.
“I know how I should feel, how I should think. I will try as much as possible to reproduce my state of mind that I had in the race to get the same result in other competitions. Of course that brings with it more expectations, but I have to be realistic. Before Saturday my best result was 6th place. That doesn’t mean that I’ll win every race there. »
Back at home
The young woman was back home on Friday, where she can spend time with her loved ones.
“I haven’t had time to celebrate with my family yet. I arrived in Quebec late last night. I was in Montreal for school the last few days. But tonight I’m celebrating with my friends and family. »
Since her triumph last weekend, Laurence St-Germain says she has been inundated with messages of love. The biomedical engineering student at Polytechnique Montréal was also honored in class.
“The general director of the school surprised me in class on Wednesday to congratulate me. It still touched me. »
Proud of their journey
The path of the 28-year-old athlete, who trains at Mont-Sainte-Anne Ski Club in Quebec, has not been easy. Cut off from the Canadian development team and ignored by the junior national team, the skier even had to pay $30,000 out of pocket a year ago to remain on the Maple Leaf team.
“It makes me even prouder of my journey and even prouder of what I have achieved. Throughout my career I haven’t always had the support that I could have had or that others had. It really is [dont] I am proud that I made a good part myself, which I owe to no one or very few people. »
It was her love of the sport that drove her to persevere.
“What also makes me proud is that I really continued for the love of skiing and not for the results, nor for the performance or to be the best. It was really [parce] that I love skiing. »
His next goal: the 2026 Olympics.