Name: Benoit Huot
CAN Fund Recipient Since: 2006
Sport: Paralympic Swimming
Best Result:
4x Paralympian (2012, 2008, 2004, 2000)
19x Paralympic Medalist (9 Gold, 5 Silver, 5 Bronze)
Hometown: Longueuil, QC
How does being a CAN Fund Recipient make a difference for you?
CAN Fund has been there for many years already. We athletes, including myself are very lucky to have the support of CAN Fund to help realize our dreams and goals in our sport. As a para-athlete, it’s more difficult to find the support you need to have every aspect of the high performance sport covered. I was a proud recepient of CAN Fund for the first time in 2006 to help me achieve my dream of competing at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. Over a decade ago the support was even harder to find but CAN Fund was there to support my journey. Today, CAN Fund continues to support each of my Paralympic journies.
Share 3 words to describe what CAN Fund is to you
Fun, Magic, Performance
Think of someone who has impacted your life. Share 3 words on who they are to you.
Philippe Gagnon – Ethic, Passion, Perseverance
Philippe made an incredible difference in my life and swimming career. He helped me become the swimmer I am today. He pushed me to an other level. He is a mentor and an older brother to me.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Pain goes away but glory stays and lasts forever…. No pain no gain.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned to get to where you are today?
Even after 20 years in the sport I am still learning everyday. It’s amazing to realize that after all of these years in the sport I can still be better in the pool and better as a human being.
What’s next? What are your current goals?
I want to compete at the IPC World Championship in July 2015 and the Para Pan American Games in Toronto and have the time of my life. I really want to enjoy and embrace the opportunity to compete on home soil. I want to increase the awareness and visibility of the para movement in the country by educating Canadians on what para sport is all about.
Inspiring Others:
One of the thing that makes me feel incredibly good are messages that I receive on social media. These messages make me very emotional and most of the time they come from people that I don’t even know.
Following is an example of a message I have received:
Hi Benoit! I have just read your article about para athletes needing more recognition and then I read about you having been born with club feet. I immediately got goose bumps! I was also born with club feet and had my last hip replacement 8 years ago. 4 years ago, I stopped feeling sorry for myself and started training. I just ran my 2nd half marathon on Monday in 02:40:40 and have now started cycling and swimming too! Sport has changed my life now! I am in awe with all your achievements and will definitely be following you! Warm regards from South Africa! Anton
Speaking Topics:
- How to achieve your goals and dreams
- Teamwork
- Motivation
- Passion
- Dream
- How to manage the stress
- You need a Plan
