A strong sense of determination
Fitness plays a key role in Claudine’s life. It gives her the confidence she needs to believe in herself and to keep moving forward without hesitation. At a young age, thanks to a dedicated and persevering soccer coach, Claudine became passionate about sports. Until she was 13 years old, she played in highly competitive soccer teams. The transition to high school was not without its challenges as Claudine abandoned the sport. Towards the end of high school, a teacher encouraged her to return to her passion. Two years later, she joined the national duathlon team. Claudine moved to Toronto in 2002 to train with top-tier triathlon athletes. A year later, she ventured overseas to discover Europe by bicycle. Her 6,000-kilometre adventure allowed her to reflect on the role she wanted to play in her community back at home.
A defining event in her life occurred when Claudine was 22; she was hit by a car while biking. Consequently, she suffered severe head trauma and went through two years of rehabilitation. During this period she began to learn about and reflect on the problem of sedentary living among girls.
In 2007, following her recovery and after much self-reflection, Claudine founded FitSpirit. She considers this to be one of her greatest accomplishments. Thanks to her will and determination, Claudine and her team succeeded in building a community that encourages girls to play sports and stay active.
FitSpirit has become a powerful movement, and it’s getting bigger every year. Amongst themselves, teen girls encourage each other, have fun moving together and share tools to flourish in their current and future lives.
This year, Claudine will be participating in the FitSpirit Mother/Daughter Challenge with her mother, Liette, and her daughter, Maïka. Claudine’s mother has always been there for her, and it inspires Claudine to see her mom taking on new challenges with a smile. Maïka, for her part, loves sports, just like her mother. Claudine will encourage her daughter to continue to remain active throughout her teens. The FitSpirit Mother/Daughter Challenge is an excellent opportunity for this multi-generational trio to strengthen their ties with each other.
