Olympic Games: Laurence Vincent Lapointe can do nothing but hope for Laurence Vincent Lapointe can only hope

Montreal - For her participation in the Tokyo Olympic Games, there is only hope for Laurence Vincent Lapointe, who however ignores how long she will have to hope for this positive outcome.

Mauricie's canoeist missed her qualification for the C1 200 m in national trials this weekend, bowing twice in front of her partner in C2 500 m, Ontario Katie Vincent.

Vincent Lapointe's only hope to qualify therefore lies in the steps taken by Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) in order to obtain a quota in C2 at the Olympic Games.

"To my knowledge, the qualification of the C2 had to be done at the Pan-American championships, which were to take place in early April, but which were canceled due to the covid," she said in videoconference on Wednesday.

Even this option is not guaranteed.

Canada has not officially qualified a C2 crew for the Olympic Games, the second final of the national tests, scheduled for last Sunday, was postponed due to the health protocol started by the fever of fever that the Quebecer lived.

If Canada gets its quota and Vincent can paddle the C2 in Tokyo, its partner would de facto get a place in C1.But CKC promised Sunday that the final would be disputed later, which means that another pair could qualify for the C2.

"I don't know when we complete or resume the second C2 race," she said.I can't wait to hear news.All I can do is continue to train and prepare for possible shopping.»»

“I have no idea (criteria that will be retained by the International Federation to respond favorably or not to the request of Canada).The request was made on the basis of particular circumstances: I could not run the C2 when I was suspended (for doping), even if I was bleached.It is therefore not a doping case that prevented us from running. Le fait de ne pas avoir pu courir en raison de la COVID va peut-être aussi peser dans la balance»», a-t-elle ajouté.

Under the results of the first final, he appears that the tandem formed of Vincent and Vincent Lapointe is superior to the others.But we must not conclude the result of a race before it takes place.

In the meantime, Vincent Lapointe takes advantage of a week off before returning to Burnaby, British Columbia, where she will resume training with her national team teammates.

The 28-year-old athlete does not know more when his next competition takes place: the World Cups planned in mid-May are still not confirmed.

"Everyone knows: the last two years have been very difficult.I was going very well in 2019 before being suspended. Ç'a été très difficile: pendant six mois, j'ai été complètement laisséeà moi-même, ne pouvant même pas parler à mon entraîneur ou mes coéquipiers»», a-t-elle rappelé.

"Quite surprisingly, it has not affected my performances too far.But almost 29 years old, the six months of suspension nevertheless left traces.I still think I am able to prepare well and be at the top of my form this summer. Mais ç'a été difficile, surtout mentalement»», a reconnu la principale intéressée.