Valois-Fortier: I wanted to leave all my energy and will on the mats in London

In 2012, young 22-year-old in that time was preparing for his first Olympic Games ever. Antoine Valois-Fortier of Canada knew that he is ready for big things, but probably he wasn't aware that he will make big result at his deubt. In London he won in first round against current Olympic Champion from Beijing, Elnur Mammadli, which won U73kg division four years earlier. For sure his second fight it was the hardest, on the other side was Euan Burton, Canadian succeed to won against him and against full sports hall of Burton's supporters. Also he was better against vice-world champion Mrvaljevic from Montenegro. Quater final he lost against Nifontov (RUS), later in repachage he was better of Lucenti (ARG) and for bronze he won against Travis Stevens (USA).

100JUDO: So Antoine, almost two years passed from the London Olympics if you look the calendar year. Are the emotions and memories still here ?

AVF: Absolutely! For me I was a dream come true. Those memories and emotions will be with me forever I think. Its a moment I’ll never forget. The feeling of winning that medal was the strongest feeling of happiness and satisfaction I felt.

100JUDO: Lot of people just dream go to the Olympics, but you succeed to take the medal with 22-year-old, also let's mention that you were not only young guy over there who took the medal. Is this tradition in Canada ? Nicolas Gill did it with only 18-years old.

AVF: I don't know if you can call it a tradition yet...but let's hope it becomes one with the future champion from Canada!! 

100JUDO: What was your major factor to motivate yourself for the London Olympics ?

AVF: My major factor of motivation for the Olympics was that you can never know what can happen in the future, you can never predict what will happen, so it might be my only chance to compete at Olympics. Who knows...Maybe in Rio I will be injured...so I wanted to leave all my energy and will on the mats in London because I knew I might never get that chance back!

100JUDO: In Paris, you were close to the podium, in what stage of preparation are you ?

AVF: I wish I could of step on the podium in Paris, but right now our preparation is really toward the Olympics qualification that will start in June and the next world championship. 

100JUDO: If you can choose, which opponent you never wanna see against you on the other side ?

AVF: That's a very good question!! But I think my coach Nicolas Gill in his best years seemed like a very fierce opponent and knowing his strength and determination....It would be the worst! But in my category right now, I think Pietri, Nagase and the Georgian are the strongest, but I want to fight them!

100JUDO: So let's get to know you little bit more, where do you live and how did you start judo ?

AVF: I live in Montréal, that's where all the national team in judo are training. I'm originally from the city of Québec tough, it's 3 hour drive from Montréal. I moved to Montréal to chase my Olympic dream when I was 18.

100JUDO: Do you have time for any other activities during judo career? You are still very young and have lot of time to stay in judo, but do you think what you will do in future?

AVF: Right now I am at the university, student in sport science. So this is my main activity outside of judo. But what I like the most is to hang out with my friends, try new restaurant and just have a good time relaxing. In the future I would really like to stay with a judo related job, otherwise a teaching career is something that I am interested too.

100JUDO: If you didn't start judo, what would you do ?

AVF: I think I would spent a lot more time at the school! But I liked to play ice hockey and basketball the most as a kid.

100JUDO: Team Championships at the Olympics, sounds very great. We at the 100judo adore team competitions, how is with you ?

AVF: I never really had the opportunity to compete at the team event. But team of Canada won silver at the team Pan-American Championship and that was a really great day. I liked the atmosphere a lot!

100JUDO: You said earlier that Olympic medal was a dream that came true. Do you remember what was your first emotions / thoughts when you knew that you got the medal?

AVF: I think at first I just could not believe it, I don’t think I had any idea of how much it would change things for me. I just told myself: I did it...
Making my family and my friends proud was unbelievable... I never saw them like this before! It was the best feeling ever.

100JUDO: What is the good part of being athlete ?

AVF: I think the best part of being an athlete is that your job is to satisfy yourself, the true boss is you. I find that it is a very honest ''job'' in this way. If you lie or cheat, you are the one directly suffering from it. And of top of that...you are an athlete, you are just playing a game! How could you not be happy!

100JUDO: Which judoka is the best of all times?

AVF: I am big Kosei Inoue fan...very charismatic and amazing judo.

Ok, in next five questions try to answer in one word that first gets on your mind

100JUDO: Describe judo in 2013 ?
AVF: Rio

100JUDO: Tokyo 2020 Olympics ?
AVF: Judo!

100JUDO: Great place for the vacation ?
AVF: Hometown or south

100JUDO: Yarden Gerbi?
AVF: Amazing athlete

100JUDO: Tadahiro Nomura?
AVF: 1996-2000-2004

Check out for more interviews

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Kayla Harrison: The best do more than the rest

Kosei Inoue: We will keep trying to show everybody how judo should be

C. Deguchi: my next big goal is to compete in Japan in senior level

T.MURRAY-WILLIAMS: After beating Hiroaka my mind was calm