Audrey Leduc of Gatineau, Que., doesn’t know what’s subsequent and, if all goes to plan, doesn’t wish to think about using what is going to quickly be her two levels from Université Laval.
Not like lots of her Canadian sprinting friends, Leduc, 22, remained in Canada after highschool as a substitute of chasing the NCAA dream that many maintain in excessive esteem. With a bachelor’s in psychology from Laval and at present in pursuit of an MBA, the concept of a profession in enterprise or teachers is on the again burner for now, as she eyes an Olympic berth—and probably extra.
Canada’s quickest girl will tackle the nation’s greatest on the Bell Canadian Olympic Trials on Friday evening in Montreal. She is seeking to clinch her spot at Paris 2024 (which is all however official), having already run Olympic-standard instances within the 100m and 200m.
Audrey Leduc is having fairly the season as Canada’s breakout sprinter forward of Olympic trials and Paris 2024.
Immediately in Atlanta, she smashed the Canadian ladies’s 200m file, ending in 22.36 seconds.
She set the 🍁 100m file earlier this yr.
pic.twitter.com/h5jkzOJFLe— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) June 1, 2024
“My objective was going to be to remain in Québec and Canada to show that athletes can nonetheless make it on the worldwide stage, and Laval has been the place to try this,” she advised Canadian Operating, praising the college’s capacity to assist high athletes and the continuity she’s been in a position to obtain below coach Fabrice Akué, who moved together with her from Québec Metropolis to Montreal’s nationwide coaching centre.
“With the ability to compete with the Rouge et Or and having the opportunity of courses on-line is essential, as a result of we have now so many meets outdoors Canada, and the college has been an awesome assist,” stated Leduc.
This season, although, has been pretty sudden, and learning remotely has been important to her success. Lining up in Laval’s pink and gold colors throughout america and around the globe, Leduc raced to a 100m file of 10.96 seconds in Baton Rouge, La., and a 200m file of twenty-two.36 in Atlanta—stopping the clock in instances that may shock her counterparts within the NCAA.
“It may be overwhelming at instances,” she stated. “It’s been thrilling to be in a spot to chase data and get the Canadian 100m and 200m data, and to proceed what I used to be doing through the indoor season, now within the out of doors season.”
In the beginning of the yr, her objective was to compete at Paris 2024. She’d hoped her World Athletics rating can be sufficient to qualify her, and that she wouldn’t essentially must qualify on instances. But, because the season has worn on and her opponents have completed full seconds behind her, the truth set in that she was Canada’s quickest girl, and had gotten to that time by way of U SPORTS.
Whereas being in Canadian college sport has allowed Leduc to be on the high of competitions since coming in as a first-year student-athlete, she says it’s the staff awards that stand out (e.g., successful a staff bronze medal on the Laval-hosted RSEQ championships). After all, she performed an enormous position in that staff podium, successful the 60m and lengthy bounce occasions, elevating the Rouge et Or to the rostrum usually occupied by large Ontario faculties.
For somebody who has collected seemingly numerous data and was just lately named the 2023-24 U SPORTS Athlete of the 12 months, there’s nonetheless a component of shock for Leduc. She has damaged out so shortly in Canadian sprinting whereas carrying a way of delight, not just for her faculty and nation, but in addition for the system that she’s confirmed has price.
“The NCAA could be a nice alternative, however I don’t really feel like I missed something staying in Canada,” she stated. “As a result of we have now fewer elite-level athletes, you possibly can win extra and have extra confidence by way of that, and that may aid you develop to have the ability to attain the next stage after faculty.”
Now comes the onerous a part of turning velocity and wins right into a profession, one that may proceed even as soon as she crosses the end line a closing time. However for now, that may wait—Paris and the Olympic stage are subsequent, and it may possibly all begin to really feel very actual on Friday evening.
