Games of la
Francophonie

Marie-Ève Dugas: An Athlete Who Loves a Challenge

October 4, 2009 - We met Marie-Ève Dugas after her qualifying race for the 100 m hurdles final. Glad to have made it to the final stage, Marie-Ève kindly accepted to answer some questions.

Marie-Ève, how did you get interested in track and field?

In elementary school, I ran faster than most of the boys and often beat the fastest in the school track meets. I was proud to talk about my achievements with my aunt who, at the time, was an Olympic race-walker. For my ninth birthday, she bought me a membership at a track club, and I haven't stopped since. I owe it to my aunt for giving me a passion for track. In fact, she is my biggest fan--apart from my mother.

Why did you choose the 100 m hurdles?

Quite early on, I started to like hurdles. When you're younger, you try out all the events. Later on, you need to concentrate on just one, because the training varies. I chose the 100-metre hurdles because it presents an extra challenge.

How do you feel about your experience at the Games of La Francophonie?

To progress in your sport, you have to take part in a lot of international competitions. The Games are kind of in between. Not all countries participate, but the calibre of the competitions is still high, which pushes me to do my best. The Games are also a good life experience. I have made links with people from a number of different countries.

Even though the athlete from Laval, Quebec, did not win a medal, she hopes to try again in the fall at the Commonwealth Games in India. We wish you the best of luck, Marie-Ève!