Audrey Leduc of Gatineau, Que., doesn’t know what’s subsequent and, if all goes to plan, doesn’t wish to think about using what is going to quickly be her two levels from Université Laval.
In contrast to lots of her Canadian sprinting friends, Leduc, 22, remained in Canada after highschool as a substitute of chasing the NCAA dream that many maintain in excessive esteem. With a bachelor’s in psychology from Laval and presently in pursuit of an MBA, the concept of a profession in enterprise or teachers is on the again burner for now, as she eyes an Olympic berth—and doubtlessly extra.
Canada’s quickest lady will tackle the nation’s greatest on the Bell Canadian Olympic Trials on Friday night time in Montreal. She is seeking to clinch her spot at Paris 2024 (which is all however official), having already run Olympic-standard occasions within the 100m and 200m.
Audrey Leduc is having fairly the season as Canada’s breakout sprinter forward of Olympic trials and Paris 2024.
At present in Atlanta, she smashed the Canadian ladies’s 200m report, ending in 22.36 seconds.
She set the 🍁 100m report earlier this 12 months.
pic.twitter.com/h5jkzOJFLe— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) June 1, 2024
“My aim was going to be to remain in Québec and Canada to show that athletes can nonetheless make it on the worldwide stage, and Laval has been the place to try this,” she advised Canadian Working, praising the college’s means to assist prime athletes and the continuity she’s been in a position to obtain beneath coach Fabrice Akué, who moved along with her from Québec Metropolis to Montreal’s nationwide coaching centre.
“Having the ability to compete with the Rouge et Or and having the potential for courses on-line is essential, as a result of we now have so many meets outdoors Canada, and the college has been an excellent assist,” mentioned Leduc.
This season, although, has been pretty surprising, and learning remotely has been important to her success. Lining up in Laval’s crimson and gold colors throughout the USA and world wide, Leduc raced to a 100m report of 10.96 seconds in Baton Rouge, La., and a 200m report of twenty-two.36 in Atlanta—stopping the clock in occasions that will shock her counterparts within the NCAA.
“It may be overwhelming at occasions,” she mentioned. “It’s been thrilling to be in a spot to chase data and get the Canadian 100m and 200m data, and to proceed what I used to be doing throughout the indoor season, now within the outside season.”
At the start of the 12 months, her aim was to compete at Paris 2024. She’d hoped her World Athletics rating could be sufficient to qualify her, and that she wouldn’t essentially must qualify on occasions. But, because the season has worn on and her opponents have completed full seconds behind her, the fact set in that she was Canada’s quickest lady, and had gotten to that time by U SPORTS.
Whereas being in Canadian college sport has allowed Leduc to be on the prime of competitions since coming in as a first-year student-athlete, she says it’s the workforce awards that stand out (e.g., successful a workforce bronze medal on the Laval-hosted RSEQ championships). After all, she performed a giant position in that workforce podium, successful the 60m and lengthy bounce occasions, elevating the Rouge et Or to the rostrum typically occupied by massive Ontario faculties.
For somebody who has collected seemingly numerous data and was just lately named the 2023-24 U SPORTS Athlete of the Yr, there’s nonetheless a component of shock for Leduc. She has damaged out so rapidly in Canadian sprinting whereas carrying a way of satisfaction, not just for her college and nation, but additionally for the system that she’s confirmed has price.
“The NCAA generally is a nice alternative, however I don’t really feel like I missed something staying in Canada,” she mentioned. “As a result of we now have fewer elite-level athletes, you’ll be able to win extra and have extra confidence by that, and that may show you how to develop to have the ability to attain the next stage after college.”
Now comes the arduous a part of turning pace and wins right into a profession, one that may proceed even as soon as she crosses the end line a last time. However for now, that may wait—Paris and the Olympic stage are subsequent, and it may possibly all begin to really feel very actual on Friday night time.
