A Quebec Golfer in the Deaflympics

(Watch the translation into Quebec sign language of this article by clicking on the video. Similarly, in the header.)

A golf tournament for deaf people, is it very different from those we are used to seeing? Therefore, “Not really,” says Sasha Laoun. Similarly, “The only difference is that if we cry ”FORE!To warn a player, it won’t work! Therefore, »»

The Quebecer lived both. Similarly, She participated in various Canadian and provincial championships and also represented the Carabins on the university scene. For example, In parallel, she participated in several competitions reserved for deaf or hard of hearing. Moreover, She notably finished 6th in Maynooth, Ireland, 2018, at the Golf World Championships.

I started golf when I was 16-17 years old. Moreover, under the encouragement of my brotherindicates the one who is now 27 years old. Furthermore, I was swimming. Consequently, Golf did not interest me at all at the start.

She finally got a taste for it, even that she was crowned champion of the university season in 2022. Consequently, But if she continued in sport thereafter, it was largely due to the unique occasions that presented herself to her.

I might have stopped sport if they were not competitions for the deaf. Meanwhile, I was approached. Consequently, I was made to discover the association of the Sourds of the Deaf Canada, which I did not know at all. Furthermore, My first tournament was a crush quickly.

I arrived in this environment. However, it is as if everyone knew me. In addition, Even if I did not speak the sign language. Furthermore, It was an immediate connection.

Sasha Laoun will find some of his opponents this week at the Canadian Deaf Championships at Château-Bromont, from July 28 to 30. Some competitors express themselves in signed language, while others, like it, are oralists and use a cochlear implant.

On the way to the deaflympics

The deaf. hard of hearing have their own sports network, with championships at the provincial, national and international levels. This explains why they are not present at the Paralympic Games, alongside other disabled people.

They rather organize their own event, the Deaflympicsor deaflympic, which are held periodically, over the four years. A great gathering which aims to give the opportunity to athletes to illustrate, but also to celebrate deaf culture.

If the paralympic games are generally held in the shadow of the Olympic Games. quebec golfer deaflympics this is even more the case for the deaflympics. The paralympic takes place in the same city as the Olympics, a few weeks later. This is not the case for the deaflympics, who really deploy as an independent event.

Because of this. the media influence is less, and the possibilities of financing are rarer, explains Alain Turpin, managing director of the Association des Sports des Sourds du Canada. Several people do not know it, but the deaflympics have existed for over 100 years. It is even older than the Paralympic. The first edition took place in Paris in 1924he notes.

There is no unfavorable prejudice towards the Paralympic. It is a very nice event, but it is multi-handicap. It is not necessarily thought of depending on the deaf and their communicationhe adds.

Sasha Laoun also sees the relevance of having a unique quebec golfer deaflympics event, of great cultural richness.

Even if you don’t speak their language, the deaf signs do everything to make you feel inclusive. There are ways to communicate, with the phone, for example. It’s funny to see how signs are not the same in Quebec. the United States, for the same word, depending on languages. It gives rise to funny exchangesshe says.

Open in full screen

These experiences even prompted her quebec golfer deaflympics to register for an LSQ course. It’s hard to maintain a good level when you don’t practice often, she admits. But I would like to get back to it. I know at least the lexicon of golf: flag, ball, hole …

Alain Turpin is delighted: Sasha did not know. It allowed him to learn more about the deaf world. to meet golfers through the planet who have the same reality as her.

He would like to offer a maximum of deaf Canadian the same opportunity to the next major Sourdlympiques meeting in Tokyo. in November. For the moment, a delegation of 48 athletes, in 9 sports, is qualified.

But the cost of travel is a major challengeindicates the director of the association. We receive funding from the federalum, but the amount has not been indexed in 10 years. quebec golfer deaflympics We are talking about a trip of about $ 5,000. The association will support them up to $ 1500 or 2000, and the rest, it will get out of their pocket. It is an additional pressure that we would like to remove.

For this. the association has set up a socio -financing campaign, with the aim of raising $ 100,000, to lighten the invoice of the participants.

It would not be too much, to allow Canadian athletes to perform in a favorable context, insists Sasha Laoun. For the moment, our inscription only covers a round of practice. We will get there with a fairly significant jet lag, a climate change. It will be at our expense if we want to argue more than a round of practiceshe underlines.

Sasha Laoun nevertheless considers herself privileged to have the opportunity to go and test the Japanese Greens. quebec golfer deaflympics Several of the best golfers in the world are Asian. It will be special to play thereshe said.

We have a second objective with this campaign. and it is to make known the work of our athletes and our association, known as Alain Turpin, himself a golfer in his spare time. We hope to join the public and the private sector, to attract sponsors. Athletes will represent Quebec and Canada internationally, it’s big. As being deaf is an invisible handicap, we think less of us. We are a bit of the poor parents of sport, it’s a shame.