Topic: News: Maryse Turcotte Wins Gold at Commonwealth Games

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Turcotte lifts weightlifting gold
By Lori Ewing

Melbourne, Australia — If this was indeed Maryse Turcotte's last major competition, she certainly went out in style.

The weightlifter from Brossard, Que., won a gold medal in the 53-kilogram class at the Commonwealth Games on Friday, in one of her last competitions before she focuses on medical school and starting a family.

“When you are in a sport for many years, one day there is the end, and it starts to be the end for me and it's not easy to leave,” said Turcotte, who broke down at her post-competition news conference.

Turcotte finished first with a Games-record 188-kilogram total. She lifted 80 kilograms in the snatch, then had a Games-record 108-kilogram effort in the clean and jerk.

Dika Toua of Papua, New Guinea was second at 181 kilograms (78 in the snatch, 103 in the clean and jerk) while Australia's Nadeen Latif captured the bronze medal at 152 kilograms (66 in the snatch, 86 in the clean and jerk).

Turcotte's victory comes four years after she won two gold and a silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, where women's weightlifting made its debut.

The 31-year-old has been a pioneer for women's weightlifting in Canada. She's a 12-time Canadian champion and has competed at every senior world championship since 1995, never finishing out of the top-10.

Turcotte wiped away tears as the Maple Leaf was raised at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on Friday night.

Walking away won't be easy.

“I'm not a person who goes everywhere with the flag, singing O Canada, but today was a bit special,” said Turcotte. “Games are very special, it's the dream of an athlete to be in this situation.

“For me, it was special to see the flag and maybe for one of the last times.”

Turcotte almost didn't compete in the Games. She's in her first year of medical school at Laval University, and only flew to Melbourne on Thursday, arriving 24 hours before her event. She was scheduled to fly back home Saturday.

“I could have missed two weeks of school, it's not them [the school], they are very supportive of athletes,” said Turcotte. “But if I missed two weeks, when I come back I would be in deep problems.

“I didn't want to miss too much school because it's really tough.”

Turcotte's medal was Canada's second in weightlifting at these Games. Marilou Dozois-Prevost of Montreal won silver in the 48-kilogram class on Thursday, Canada's first medal of this competition.