Makivik Magazine Issue 91

tournament she also took time to meet
each of the 75 young Bantam hockey
players representing 10 different communities.
Her visit to Nunavik was extremely
interesting to follow. She reaches out
and connects with people—both children
and adults—within seconds. She
is an exceptional athlete, but also a
woman of heart and great spirit. She
shared both her professional and personal
experiences with a generosity
beyond words. She delivered a very
strong message about the importance
of finding something challenging to do
that brings out the best in us. Such an
interest or passion becomes even more
important when life is not simple. She
knows a lot on that subject.
From the outside, we can imagine
that athletes usually have an easy life
courtesy: NYHDP x2
and that everything is set up to facilitate
their success. It was far from being
the case for this athlete who won
world recognition in two disciplines.
At home, nothing was helping her to
bloom in the presence of an alcoholic father and an older sister caught in the circle
of drugs for a very long time. In her teenage years, she had little interest in academics
and standard pathways. She then chose a so-called marginal lifestyle that
was pretty common among teenagers involving cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, partying
and so on. She did not complete her high school and was then barely involved
in sport activities.
At some point in her life, she saw and was tremendously impressed by athletes
who brought out the best in themselves and reached their full potential despite difficulties
and wounds. She then decided to accomplish something in life, to develop
her potential. After doing some speed skating, a coach convinced her to change disciplines
to bicycling. Some years and medals later she came back to speed skating.
Clara Hughes completely changed her life. She invested 20 years in these two
disciplines, at a rate of six hours per day, six days per week and 11 months per year.
She is only the Canadian Olympian to have won medals at both the summer and
winter Olympics. She ended her career by winning a bronze medal after "the best
race of her life".
Clara has shown an Olympian strength and determination over the past 20
years. She succeeded despite a truly dysfunctional social and family environment.
Such an achievement can only serve as a source of inspiration to go beyond the difficulties
we face in our daily life. Would we be able to persevere for 20 years like she
did? Will we be able to simply try for one day? No matter what the result is at the
end, Clara says the important thing is to do your best. When we succeed, the satisfaction
is such that we want to do it again.
Clara Hughes left Nunavik after having touched the hearts and the souls of
several young people. She also left these hearts and the minds filled from these
beautiful meetings and everywhere she went, people welcomed her very warmly.
A truly beautiful exchange!
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The Kangiqsualujjuaq air terminal was packed with well-wishers for the Olympic champion.
Foule enthousiaste à l’aérogare de Kangiqsualujjuaq pour saluer la championne olympique.
résumer disons qu’après un peu de patin de vitesse un
coach l’a convaincu de changer de discipline pour aller vers
le vélo. Quelques années et médailles plus tard, elle décide
de faire un retour en patin de vitesse.
Clara Hughes s’est métamorphosée, elle a investi 20
ans de sa vie dans ces deux disciplines, à raison de 6 heures
par jour, 6 jours par semaines et 11 mois par année. Elle est
la seule olympienne multi-médaillée des jeux d’été et d’hiver.
Elle a terminé sa carrière en remportant une médaille
de bronze grâce à « sa plus belle course à vie ».
Clara a démontré une force et une volonté olympique
au cours des vingt dernières années. Elle s’est accomplie
malgré un univers social et familial complètement dysfonctionnel.
Devant cet accomplissement il nous semble
ensuite impossible de ne pas simplement essayer de nous
dépasser devant certaines difficultés de notre quotidien.
Serons-nous capables de le faire pendant au moins vingt
ans comme elle? Serons-nous simplement capables d’essayer
pour une journée? Peu importe le résultat en bout
de ligne, l’important nous dit-elle est de réussir à faire de
notre mieux. Lorsqu’on y arrive, la satisfaction est telle que
l’on veut recommencer.
Clara Hughes est repartie du Nunavik après avoir atteint
le cœur et l’âme de plusieurs jeunes. Elle est également repartie
le cœur et la tête pleine de toutes ces belles rencontres
puisque partout où elle est passée les gens l’ont accueillie
très chaleureusement. Un bel échange!
MAKIVIK mag a zine
79