Aged 9 to 20, the gymnasts competed as a team for their region. Along with the provincial championships, the Regional Challenge is one of the major provincial competitions organized in this discipline.
The young people taking part were therefore very proud of it this weekend. This is the case of Adèle Perreault, an athlete from Rimouski, who is in her first year in the R5 category. She will also long remember her participation in the Challenge des Régions. It was really a feat for me!
she says, happy.
A gymnast, from the back, is about to start her number during the 11th edition of the Challenge des Régions.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Samuel Ranger
Angélique Dion Saint-Amant, a gymnast from La Pocatière, admits that she is not used to jumping in front of so many spectators. For her, the event was also an opportunity to watch her colleagues at work. It was really interesting to see how others compete
she explains with satisfaction.
While the young gymnasts in the region did not have to travel far to live this experience, others had to travel several hundred kilometers to participate.
The lifting of health measures has allowed participants and their companions to attend competitions without having to wear a mask.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Samuel Ranger
This is the case for the members of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue delegation. Even if they had to cross the province from west to east, coaches and gymnasts were all smiles on the competition stages.
” They are in a competitive sport. What is interesting is to compete against the athletes of the province in their respective categories. That makes them happy! »
Moreover, the fact that this event is organized without health restrictions is far from having gone unnoticed throughout the weekend. For many athletes, this was the first competition without a mask in just over two years.
Beyond the competitive aspect of the event, the Regional Challenge allows gymnasts from all over Quebec to rub shoulders for a weekend.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Samuel Ranger
Often, we were out of breath doing our competitions with our masks!
commented Charlotte Lacharité, gymnast from the Abitibi-Témiscamingue delegation.
Benefits for health… and for Rivière-du-Loup
For the organizers of the event, the competition will have motivated young people to play sports. It also helped attract many visitors to the Rivière-du-Loup region.
The Premier Tech Stadium in Rivière-du-Loup welcomed the participants from Friday to Sunday. As this snapshot shows, many of them answered the call. Several participants also came accompanied by their parents.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Samuel Ranger
Several parents took advantage of the long weekend to accompany their children to Bas-Saint-Laurent. The hotels are full and the restaurants are rolling
, rejoices Karine Malenfant, member of the organizing committee of the Challenge of the regions. After two years of the pandemic, she believes this boost is welcome for traders.
We are well aware that for the tourist industry, it has been difficult
notes Ms. Malenfant.
During the three days of competition, nearly 500 medals will have been awarded in total, to the delight of the athletes and accompanying persons.
According to the report by Patrick Bergeron
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca