Alex Boisvert-Lacroix

Other information	APPEAL AND REINSTATEMENT After finishing fifth in the 500m at the 2021 Canadian National Championships in Calgary, he was initially left out of the national squad for the 2021/22 World Cup season. However, following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS], he was successfully reinstated to the Canadian national team in November 2021. "I disagreed with the selection process. I felt that an important criteria had been ignored and that the process had been affected. So I appealed my case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The decision has been rendered, I will be reinstated in the team. It's a huge relief and a huge stress reliever. I feel like I got justice." (latribune.ca, 04 Nov 2021; journaltime.org, 04 Nov 2021) OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE He went into the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang hoping to win a medal, following three podium finishes in the World Cup season leading up to the Games. However, he ended up placing 11th in his event [500m] in Pyeongchang. "I wanted a [Olympic] medal so badly because it was achievable. [But] my coach was the first to come and see me and say I was not allowed to be disappointed, that I had to hold my head high. If I look back to where I was two years ago, I would have been happy just to have been at the Olympics, regardless of the result." (ici.radio-canada.ca, 07 Mar 2018) MOVE TO SPEED SKATING Having made his international debut in short track in 2007, he contracted glandular fever and missed out on the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, which prompted a switch to speed skating. "[It] came at a bad time, I needed to change something. I had reached a certain plateau [in short track] that I was unable to overcome. That's when I decided to test my skills in speed skating." (alexboisvertlacroix.weebly.com, 22 Nov 2015) OCCUPATION In 2017 he completed his studies in sports teaching, which he had started 10 years earlier. After the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, he began working at the College Jean Eudes in Montreal, QC, Canada, teaching physical education. "My objective as a sports teacher is to transmit my passion for sport. I hope the kids will see my passion and that might inspire them to achieve." (ici.radio-canada.ca, 20 Apr 2018)
Awards and honours	In 2017 he was named International Male Athlete of the Year at the 36th edition of the Merite sportif de l'Estrie in Quebec, Canada. (radio-canada.ca, 02 Feb 2017)
Injuries	He sustained a herniated disc in his back during the 2018/19 season. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)
Hobbies	Hiking, watching TV series. (Athlete, 18 Jan 2021)
Nicknames	Big Dog (Athlete, 18 Jan 2021)
Memorable sporting achievement	Competing at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and winning the 500m title at consecutive 2017 World Cup events in Calgary, AB, Canada, and Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America. (Athlete, 18 Jan 2021)

Reason for choosing this sport

"I was taking a skating lesson as a child and after my practice I saw some older kids do some racing. I told my parents I wanted to do races."

Most influential person in career	Coaches Gregor Jelonek and Stephen Gough. (Athlete, 12 Nov 2017)
Hero / Idol	US basketball player Michael Jordan, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal. (Athlete, 18 Jan 2021)

When and where did you begin this sport?

He took up the sport at age six in Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.

Sporting philosophy / motto

"Each athlete is different." (Athlete, 08 Feb 2017)

www.facebook.com/alex.boisvertlacroix

Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs	He likes to wear a number of old lucky t-shirts under his suit during competitions. "For example, there are a few t-shirts that my mother wore when she played volleyball at a high level. There's another that I used to wear in primary school with my favourite team on it, the Chicago Bulls, because Michael Jordan is my hero." (Athlete, 18 Jan 2021; alexboisvertlacroix.weebly.com, 22 Nov 2017)
Other sports	He has represented Canada in short track. He finished third in the 500m at the 2007 World Cup event in Harbin, People's Republic of China. (SportsDeskOnline, 02 Dec 2015; alexboisvertlacroix.weebly.com, 22 Nov 2015)