ATHLETICS. Three years ago, Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu was crowned king of the Games of Canada. Today, the Decathlon champion is preparing to defend his title in Saint-Jean de Newfoundland.
In addition to participating in the queen test of athletics, Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu will be in action in the discipline of the pole jump. It is thanks to his performances during the selection events disputed this summer that the Drummondvillois was selected within the Quebec team.
Aware that the caliber will be even more raised than three years ago, in Niagara Falls, Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu nevertheless approaches this competition with confidence.
“My main goal is to try to make another personal record,” said the 23 -year -old athlete in a telephone interview. I want to try to break my 7035 points record. I also aim for a top three. I still want to be on the podium! At the pole jump, it will be more full -bodied to go get a podium, but I will try to stand out while still reaching the five meter mark. ”
“The key to success will mainly be to push,” he continued. I will really have to stay focused, do what I do in training and everything should be fine. ”
It was during a competition by invitation disputed near Los Angeles that Edouard Lavoie-Beaulieu established his personal mark of 7035 points. A performance that allowed him to rank in 16e position on fifty participants.
“With all the work I did in training with my coach, I was there. It was really easier than last year, when I had reached 7000 points, “he said, adding that the Californian heat was also beneficial for the relaxation of its muscles.
Power and Constance
Member of the Green and Gold of the University of Sherbrooke for two years, Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu has put duplicates in training in recent months to improve its performance. In addition to his main coach Luc Lafrance, he is now advised by a pole jump expert as well as a former Olympian specializing in the sprint events.
“We mainly worked on track or height momentum,” said the athlete-student in physical education and health. I must be more relaxed in my race. Usually, I am no longer a power athlete. I am tense, which limits me in my movements. I really worked on muscle relaxation to get into the curves. We worked a lot on my throws too. Instead of launching straight line, I now start in rotation. ”
Despite an unconventional technique to the pole jump, Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu gradually increased the height of his leaps over the months.
“My strength is mainly jumps: pole jump, high jump and long jump. This is what allows me to get a lot of points compared to my opponents. My other force is my consistency. Two days ago in a decathlon. The first day is a day of power for conventional athletes. The second day is really more technical. This is really where we see decathletes. ”
This week, Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu is participating in the Canadian athletics championship disputed in Ottawa. In addition to pole jump, he will be in action to throw javelin.
“At the pole, I aim for a podium to put myself in confidence for the games. At the javelin, I want to succeed in reaching the brand of the 60 meters. For the moment, I’m 57.5 meters away. I’m still close. “
In the longer term, Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu keeps his eyes on his ultimate dream: the 2028 Olympic Games, which will take place in Los Angeles.
“That’s really what I’m going. We try to set up the score gradually. For the moment, I still miss 1400 points to do the Olympic standard. I am confident to get there. I still have good progress, ”said Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu.
If he fails to win his pass for the Olympic decathlon, the scholarship holder of the Aleo Foundation and the city of Drummondville will try to qualify for the pole jump.
A competitor born
Former coach of Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu in the Drummondville athletics club, Martin Gagné continues to monitor his career with great attention.
“Édouard is a competitor,” said Martin Gagné. It is much more efficient in competition than in training. Beyond its value as decathlonian, its strength is really towards jumps rather than races. He is an exceptional jumper! “
Despite a modest template for a decathlonian, he who measures 5 feet and 10 inches, Édouard Lavoie-Beaulieu stands out by his natural force.
“His power serves him well in Décathlon, where there are few endurance events apart from the 1500 meters and the last portion of the 400 meters. Everything else, they are power tests where we have to combine strength and speed. ”
The ten decathlon tests
– First day: 100 meters, long jump, weight throwing, high jump and 400 meters.
– Second day: 110 meters hedges, disc launch, pole jump, throwing javelin and 1500 meters.
– points are assigned in each test according to the performance of athletes. It is the total of points that determines the winner.
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