I AM Spotlight: Christine Gauthier, CANADA, Sports Saved Her Life
Canada’s Christine Gauthier took Medal Monday by storm, winning three gold medals in the heavyweight powerlifting and indoor rowing events, earning Canada its first gold medal at the Invictus Games Orlando 2016. From her opening win, Christine and her companion dog Batak inspired spectators and even President George W. Bush, who decorated her with her gold at the Games and told her “she’s very strong.”
Gauthier served in the Canadian Army and in 1989 suffered permanent damage to her knees and spine in a training accident.
She feels strong because of sports. Feeling lucky and honored to represent her country for its first medal of the Games, Gauthier shared her emotional journey of suicide urges following her injuries. She is a true believer in the power of sports. “[Sports] literally saved my life. “
No wonder Christine is a top-level competitor and five-time para-canoe world champion. She is training in for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio kayaking but hasn’t yet taken her eye off a potential win in swimming this week at the Games.
“I still have swimming, where again, I have no idea what will be the outcome,” but she is excited and focused.
In speaking about what it means to have the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017, she shared “it’s important to her bring more awareness to the situation of wounded soldiers in Canada.” She’s hoping to compete in Toronto and for many Invictus Games to come.
So how does she do it? Here’s what she had to say:
How do you juggle training for multiple sporting events?
Weightlifting, rowing and swimming work different aspects of my body which makes it challenging. I really need to thank both my coaches, Marc Creamer and Dustin Piatkowski who had many, many, many headaches over how-to let me train, which sport to make it work and have me ready for all these different events.
Did you expect to medal?
There is really no way to know. We of course all dream of it and hope for it but never could I have known this amazing outcome for us, G0 Team Canada!
What are your other plans at the Games?
I am looking forward to cheering on more of my fellow teammates, meeting new people and enjoying the rest of the activities and great ceremonies put together by the Invictus Games Orlando 2016.
