Maxence Parrot is the first to recognize it: he is no longer the same. The cancer he fought in 2019 changed him as an athlete, but also as a person.
However, there is one aspect of the Bromont snowboarder’s personality that the disease has not transformed and that is his competitive spirit. The silver medalist in slopestyle at the Pyeongchang Games is therefore coming to his third Olympic meeting with the firm intention of climbing to the top step of the podium this time in Beijing.
But above all, he intends to take full advantage of the experience, even if the event will take place in a context of strict sanitary measures where the athletes will have very limited freedom of movement apart from their competitions. A perspective that will not prevent Parrot from living the moment 100%.
“Before (my cancer) I took life for granted, I lived a lot in the future, the 27-year-old athlete recently explained by videoconference on the sidelines of the X Games in Aspen, Colorado. Today, I appreciate every little thing that happens in my day, I appreciate my passion even more.
“I also take more time for myself and I have learned to say no. I said yes to everyone before and I had a crazy schedule. I do more of the things that tempt me to do. I can’t breathe now. »
A twist of life
The diagnosis of cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which he received in December 2018 fell like a sledgehammer. For a young man to whom everything had succeeded so far, the pill was initially difficult to swallow. For him, it’s like being forced to put his life on hold for a few months.
Once he accepted the idea that he would have to give up his season, the time to submit to 12 chemotherapy treatments in the space of six months, Parrot tackled the challenge of healing, with the lot of uncertainties accompanying it.
“I didn’t know if the treatments would work or how my body would react,” Parrot recalled. There were a lot of unknowns. With my mental trainer, we focused on the day-to-day battle instead of seeing the big picture. »
Throughout his bi-weekly treatments, he experienced dark periods where his determination and resilience were pushed to the limit. In a few weeks, he went from being a top-level athlete in superb physical shape to that of a weakened patient, without energy and needing fifteen hours of sleep a day.
An unexpected source of motivation ignited the competitive flame in him that spring when he learned that the X Games scheduled for Norway had been postponed to August. This became the goal for him that would help him complete his chemotherapy treatments and get back to training in order to compete and… win them.
We know the rest. Two months after his last treatment, he made his return to competition by winning the high jump event (big air) in Oslo.
Parrot hopes its experience will inspire
to all those who are going through hard times due to illness. His example of resilience and perseverance won him the prestigious Laureus award for comeback of the year and the medal of the National Assembly of Quebec in 2021.
Gold in its sights
Looking back, Parrot believes he is a better athlete today.
“I enjoy my sport even more today. Every time I put my feet on my board, I have a big smile of contentment and it carries over to training afterwards. Everything is more positive. »
After collecting four medals in 2018, Canadian snowboarders are still serious candidates for the podium in Beijing, with, in addition to Parrot, the return of Sébastien Toutant (gold medalist, long jump), Mark McMorris (bronze, slopestyle) and Laurie Blouin (silver, slopestyle).
And this time around, there’s no question of settling for a silver medal for Parrot, a hopeful of a podium in long jumps and slopestyle.
“My goal is to go for gold, but if I don’t get it I won’t have any regrets because I did everything in my power. It’s important not to have any regrets, no matter the outcome. »
Assured of its Olympic qualification since the end of last season, Parrot has chosen to prepare for the Games by limiting competitions in favor of training. He played only one World Cup this season, 4 at the big jump in Steamboat, Colorado in early December. And he made a point of going to the X Games in Aspen earlier this month.
“Last World Cups, the jumps were smaller, so not really similar to what we’re going to have at the Olympics. I did not see these competitions as an advantage. So I focused on my preparation and the X Games fit well in this sense, with big jumps and a course similar to those in Beijing. »
The multiple X Games medalist won silver in the long jump there and placed 7th in slopestyle earlier this month.
Since his debut, the man nicknamed “The Kid” has been recognized for constantly pushing the limits of his sport with ever more daring figures. He has stood out over the seasons, notably achieving the first quadruple underflip switch in a big air event in 2017.
Will he surprise us once again in Beijing?
“Maybe you’ll see.
“It always depends on the present moment, on the strategy, on what the others will do, on the course. There are a lot of things that come into play. I never give anything away until I’m on the jump. »
One thing is certain, he is thrilled by the site of the big jump facilities.
“It’s a city site (in Beijing), it’s super well built. Of all the big city hops I’ve done in my life, this is the most beautiful. I’m going to have a lot of fun performing there. »
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The men’s slopestyle event will be held on February 6 and 7 at the Genting Snow Park in the Zhangjiajkou area. The high jump competition is scheduled for February 14 and 15 at the Shougang site in the Beijing area.
