Antoine Valois-Fortier rose to world prominence by capturing a bronze medal in judo in the 2012 Olympic Games. This weekend he will be the star attraction at a three-day series of seminars for judo students at an event hosted by the Creston Judo Club.
“We have registrants coming from all around the Kootenays and into the Okanagan,” said club president Terry Rendek. “We are very fortunate to have a world-class Olympic medalist coming to our community.”
With his bronze medal win in the London games, Valois-Fortier became the first Canadian judoka to bring home a medal since 2000, and only the fifth-ever Canadian Olympic medalist in judo. He has won silver and bronze medals in the Pan American Games and also captured the Canadian national championship gold medal in 2010 after earning bronze medals in 2007 and 2008.
Valois-Fortier, 23, lives in Quebec City and is coached by Nicolas Gill, who won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympic Games.
Rendek met Valois-Fortier at a national junior judo camp in Watrous, Sask.
“The Olympic medal definitely didn’t go to his head,” he said. “He was sleeping on mats on the floor with the kids so that we could all save money. And he gave a really great motivational speech.”
Seminars will be held at Adam Robertson Elementary School and the public is invited to attend. On Friday night, U15 and older students will participate from 7-9 p.m. Saturday’s seminars will run from 9-11 a.m. (U9/U11/U13) and 1-4 p.m. (U15 and older). Sunday will include a seminar from 9-11 a.m. (U9/U11/U13), a motivational speech from 11-noon and an open mat session for all ages from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Valois-Fortier will also speak following a banquet at Creston and District Community Complex on Saturday evening.
“We have had tremendous support from the community. The Town of Creston and RDCK Areas A, B and C have all contributed, as have business and individuals,” Rendek said. “Antoine is a great speaker and a fine role model — we are very fortunate that he has agreed to come to Creston.”