Confidences of Pierre Harvey: the Quebec Games were the start of a great adventure

MISE À DAY

Rivière-du-Loup | Pierre Harvey, his participation in the Quebec Games is his butterfly effect. You know, a small thing that can have a big impact. He was part of the first edition in Rivière-du-Loup in 1971 and it was from this moment that the story of his life began to be written.

Sport, love life, children and all these major competitions around the world, it is not surprising that Pierre Harvey has become the quintessential ambassador of the Quebec Games. 

“I wonder what what would have become of my life when I look at all this today,” says the great athlete.

Born into a family of five children, the native of Rimouski began to take an interest in swimming around the age of 12. He admits that at that time he was not very athletic and that his brothers called him “the fat one”. 

As he was not the best of the swimming club Les Dauphins, young Pierre Harvey decides to go for breaststroke when freestyle was much more popular.

Pierre Harvey congratulates his son Alex on his first World Cup victory in Sweden.

First medal

He surprised everyone by winning a bronze medal at the Quebec Games. 

“For me, that's where it all started. It was more important than winning an Olympic medal. Afterwards, I was motivated and the medal gave me confidence, and with confidence and hard work you can achieve great things,” he says.

He will participate in two other times at the Quebec Games, in 1973 in Rouyn-Noranda and in 1974 in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, in cycling. 

And you know the story. In 1984, Pierre Harvey became the first Canadian to take part in two Olympiads in the same year. 

The whole family at the Games

Not surprising either that the members of the Harvey family have the Quebec Games tattooed on their hearts since both parents and three children took part in this great gathering Quebec athlete.

Alex and Sophie in cross-country skiing in Rimouski in 2001, Laurence in mountain biking in Sept-Îles in 2007 and their mother, Mireille Belzile, in cycling in Trois-Rivières in 1975.< /p>

“When I think about it, it's almost hard to believe. My children love sport, they still do it, we do it together, it's a great wealth,” he says.

He also admits that seeing his son Alex perform on the international scene l made him extremely proud.

“He immediately loved cross-country skiing and he pushed the limits further than me. He did things that I never did, ”says the one who has yet participated in four Olympiads at the Summer and Winter Games.

A young version of Alex, who followed in his father's footsteps.

Causing chance

Pierre Harvey doesn't know if he believes in fate, but he likes to say that he caused chance.

At age 12 when he went to the swimming coach to tell him he would like to be in the club. 

At age 16 when a friend of his brothers proposed to him to do a bike competition and that he decided two weeks notice to take on this challenge, which he finally took up. 

In his twenties when he fell in love with cross-country skiing after Canada boycotted the Moscow Olympics. Cross-country skiing became his favorite sport above all others. 

“I have visited all the Scandinavian countries. I have made extraordinary journeys. We were taken by helicopter to glaciers for training. These are incredible memories. »

Pierre Harvey does not hide it, he would have liked to win an Olympic medal at home, at the Calgary Games in 1988. 

But once again when he wanted to give up everything after this great disappointment , he went to draw on his childhood, remembering the pleasure he had in competing, always wanting to surpass himself when he was only 14 years old.

A few weeks later, he won the race mythical Oslo during the 100th anniversary of the World Cup in Norway. 

A feat that put an end to a great career that began at the Quebec Games.

A unique week for three sisters

Raphaëlle (referee), Éliane (goalkeeper) and Roxanne (coach) immortalized their presence at the Quebec Games.

The members of a family from Gatineau, passionate about women's hockey, had the privilege of participating for the first time together in the 56th final of the Quebec Games in Rivière-du-Loup, but in three different roles.

The sisters Éliane Locas as goalkeeper for the Outaouais team, Roxane Daley as coach of the same team and Raphaëlle Locas as official have lived unforgettable moments since the start of the tournament.

“C' is really a great experience to live the Games with his two sisters. It's rare that this happens, we are really lucky. We will remember it all our lives,” says Éliane.

A family affair

Raphaëlle was unable to officiate the part of her sisters for obvious reasons of impartiality, but just the fact of finding themselves at the same time in such an important competition is a defining moment in the lives of young girls who support each other in their dreams. and in their ambitions.

Hockey is an affair of the heart in this family. Roxane was the first to take an interest in this sport and she passed on her passion to her two younger sisters, who were immediately hooked. 

Since then, there's been talk of sport around of the table.

“You could say we are a hockey family. This sport has given me so much. I wouldn't be the person I am today without hockey. Now it's my turn to give back, and that's what I try to do as a coach,” says Roxane.

Even though the sisters have performed well in their journeys, it's not the results that hold the attention, but rather the happiness of being able to rub shoulders and share the same passion. 

“It's really all the memories we've accumulated with the time that will remain in our memories, the good times we had together around hockey,” they say. 

Records in weightlifting

< p>Charlotte Simoneau of Richelieu-Yamaska ​​wowed the gallery by beating three Quebec Games records in weightlifting. She lifted 88 kg in the snatch and 110 kg in the clean and jerk, for a total of 198 kg. The young girl at 64 kg achieved her feat in front of Olympic champion Maude Charron.