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Olympian achievement: Philippe Beaudry 

By Michael Keegan

In the delicate balance of battle and ballet that is the sport of fencing, it’s the rare athlete who first takes up a blade at the age of 13 and reaches the Olympics by 21. Meet Philippe Beaudry, rare athlete.

The second-year finance student at JMSB is back from an emotional three weeks in Beijing where he competed in the individual sabre category.

Since starting his fencing career in 2000, he has won a total of ten Canadian championships, at both junior and senior levels.

In 2007, Beaudry placed third in the Junior World Championships and won gold at the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro. He won a make-or-break Americas Zone competition in Mexico in April to qualify for the Canadian Olympic Team.

Realizing his Olympic dream was all the more significant given his family’s history in fencing. His father, Paul, was on the Canadian team for 15 years and qualified to represent his country at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 but was denied the opportunity when Canada boycotted those games.

What is it like to train for international competition while attending university?
“To be honest, it’s very difficult,” said Beaudry. “I put school and fencing first, and everything else is secondary.”

Beaudry attends school full-time in the fall but only part-time in winter when there are more competitions. His days can include training in the morning and evening, with classes in between. He trains an average of five hours a day, five or six days a week.

The athlete’s lifestyle has provided “many valuable lessons” applicable to his studies.

“I’ve learned concentration, discipline, perseverance – and organization,” he said. “I’m very well organized in any project I undertake. It’s made me very good at multi-tasking.”

Beaudry arrived in Beijing ranked 34th in the world. He won his first match but was later eliminated by no less than the defending Olympic gold medalist. His Olympic experience, however, didn’t end there.

“I was there for three weeks, and each was different,” recalled Beaudry.

The first focused entirely on preparation for his event, while the last was spent socializing.

“The welcome the Chinese offered was impeccable, they were extremely nice, and always had a smile,” said Beaudry. “And each athlete you meet in the Olympic village is an extraordinary person, you can even see it in the way they carry themselves. It was a heart-warming experience.”

The middle week? That was spent attending other events and exploring Beijing with his brother François – and their father, who had the chance to live his Olympic dream through his son.

“Always believe in your dreams,” said Beaudry. “Every time I attain my objective and realize a dream, it’s supremely satisfying. And then, I raise the bar. From year to year, I try to surprise.”

Look for Beaudry in London in 2012.