His face still bears traces of suffering. A cut on the left cheek, below the eye, as wide as a fingernail. The mark of a violent fall that occurred during training, Friday February 9, a few hours before the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Games. Evacuated on a stretcher, she was taken to hospital for a thorough examination, doctors fearing a concussion.
A trace of suffering but, in his eyes and his smile, a deep and intense joy. “I don’t realize, it’s completely crazy,” repeats Laurie Blouin from her second place in the slopestyle event at the Games, Monday February 12, behind the American Jamie Anderson. A silver medal won at the age of 21, for his first Olympic experience. The Canadian struggles to find her words. In three days, she went from anxiety to drunkenness.
Originally from Quebec, Laurie Blouin discovered snowboarding at the age of 6, on the slopes of the Stoneham resort, following in the footsteps of her older brother. She wanted to follow him, she sought to imitate him. She ended up outrunning him. At 16, she stood out with a junior world title. Last year, she confirmed her promises by winning the Senior World Championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain.
A willing daredevil, she likes to distract her daily life as a surfer with motocross trips and trampoline sessions. Passionate about travel, she did not hesitate to have a plane tattooed on her forearm. By her own admission, Laurie Blouin is stubborn. “After my fall in training, I only had one idea: forget my fear and get back on the board. I don’t like to give up,” she confides, switching easily from French to English.
The day after her silver medal, the Quebecer took the time to meet the media at the PyeongChang Games press center. “After I came down, I called my father, he was crying on the phone,” she said. I had never heard him cry before. This medal will mark my life. »
