Also accompanying the Gauthier crew to Beijing are Sarah’s mom and Gauthier’s close friend Joseph.
Gauthier’s Paralympic future
So, will there be a fifth Paralympic Games for Gauthier?
“That’s the million dollar question,” he laughed. “I haven’t made my mind up yet. I’ll see how I do in this performance. I would like to see double gold out of this one and then we’ll make some decisions.”
Yet, while Gauthier says he is undecided, to hear him talk about sport and the Paralympic Games makes it hard to believe that he won’t compete in London in 2012.
“I love the competition; I love the sport; I love meeting people from all over the world,” he said. “To be an elite athlete and know you are representing your country is amazing. This being my fourth time is just as special as it was all of the other times. It still makes me tingle to come out in front of 80,000 people in the Canadian uniform (during the opening ceremonies).”
Boccia is unique to the Paralympic Games and is played by wheelchair athletes with severe cerebral palsy and related neurological disorders. The sport is a test of muscle control and accuracy, demanding extreme skill and concentration at the highest level.
Boccia is played on a long, narrow court by individuals, pairs and teams. The goal is to throw or bowl a ball so that it lands as close as possible to the target ball, called a 'jack'. At the end of every round, the competitor whose ball is closest to the jack scores one point for every ball that is closer than his opponent's. A game consists of four ends in individual and pairs competitions; there are six ends in team events.
Ultimately, it may not be Gauthier himself who has the final say in whether he retires or not. He’s getting a lot of pressure from Derek to stay in sport not only for a fifth Paralympics, but for a sixth.
“He says I can’t retire because he wants to be my sport assistant in eight years,” Gauthier said.
Gauthier balances sport and family with an important work role with the B.C. Paraplegic Association, as its community capacity coordinator. He works with other community organizations, individuals and government to improve policies and address issues that affect people with disabilities. In the past he ran a consulting company that helped people with disabilities make the transition to independent living arrangements. He enjoys his new role, because he is able to make change on a larger scale and affect more people’s lives.
Gauthier is grateful to the B.C. Paraplegic Association who has been very supportive of his Paralympic endeavors – giving him the time that he needs to train, to travel and to compete.
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