Thomas Levac is about to live the experience of a lifetime. In a week, the teenager will fly to Cologne, Germany to compete in the World Short People’s Games, July 28-August 6.
All my friends are impressed and they are all looking forward to seeing me go to Germany. I too can’t wait, I’m counting the days!, immediately exclaims the resident of Embrun, in eastern Ontario.
In 2017, Canada hosted the competition in Guelph, Ontario. Then 8 years old, Thomas had won gold in ball hockey and silver in the 12 and under shot put.
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Thomas Levac returned from his first World Short People’s Games with two medals around his neck in 2017. (File photo)
Photo: Courtesy of Josée Savage-Levac
The young man has fond memories of this experience, but his family expects his second Games to be even more thrilling for several reasons.
Thomas had serious medical problems when he was younger. Her health has been very good for two years, but before, we weren’t allowed to travel by plane because of heart problems. It’s going to be his first time on a plane, so he’s almost more excited about flying than competing, says his mother, Josée Savage-Levac.
I find this cool, because it’s a whole other continent. We’ll see how they live there and how the food looks compared to here, adds the main interested party.
However, the 14-year-old athlete will not have much time to play tourist. He will be part of more than a dozen sports disciplines ranging from soccer to athletics, including basketball, volleyball, archery, weightlifting and badminton.
I would like to take 5 medals, about half, that’s my goal.
To have the opportunity to maybe run faster than someone or to be able to stand out and win against someone similar to him is very motivating, underlines Ms. Savage-Levac.
Obstacles to overcome
To participate in the World Short People’s Games, athletes do not have to go through qualifications, but they still face some challenges. Among other things, the hundreds of kilometers that separate them from their teammates.
The 29 Canadian athletes really come from all over, so it’s very difficult to practice with the whole team, but everyone trains individually, says Thomas’ mother.
It’s not that bad, assesses his son. I train with my brothers at the Dome often. There’s a small gym and sometimes we’ll do weights together, that’s how I train.
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Thomas Levac is a versatile athlete who plays several sports.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Ismaël Sy
The biggest obstacle of the lot remains undoubtedly the financial burden imposed on these athletes who do not receive any government subsidy.
Unfortunately, we have had no return in terms of financial support. Each athlete is responsible for financing his participation in the “Olympics”, which is a shame, because it is very expensive. We are talking about 15,000 dollars per athlete and that does not include the costs for the parents or the guide, deplores Josée Savage-Levac.
Thomas Levac will therefore only be accompanied by his mother. His father and his two older brothers will have to follow his performances from the family home in Embrun. A small downside at the dawn of a great adventure.
2023-07-17 23:16:29
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