JAMES VERREAULT
Sport has always been a key feature of my life. I’ve been shaped by the highs provided to me through sport and have learnt more about myself from the lows. Over the past decade I have been involved in Lifesaving Sport. While not a mainstream sport in Canada, Lifesaving Sport is the only sport where participants first learn the skills for humanitarian purposes and only later use them in competition. Through a variety of running, swimming, paddling, and simulated rescue events competitors test skills that were first learned for saving others in competitions amongst each other.
My path to becoming a National Lifesaving Team member began in 2001 when I completed my Bronze Medallion. The skills learnt through lifesaving and lifeguarding courses have allowed me to help make water a safer place and given me the confidence to respond to calls for help where ever they are needed. This coupled with my mulit-sport background of competitive running, swimming, and flat-water sprint canoe and kayaking have given me the opportunity to represent Canada since 2011.
As I enter into my final year competing at the international level and representing Canada I am seeking support to assist in offsetting the financial hurdles of amateur sport.
As I head towards the World Lifesaving Championships (Netherlands – September 1-18) I will be at competing at a number of national events and a world cup event in Japan (June 30 – July 6) to prepare myself.
I have been very fortunate to support my sport by teaching others in both the lifesaving skills our sport is based on and again in the competitive techniques we utilize in sport. I have been involved in public speaking engagements for my sport and in the development of coaching and training material for lifesaving sport in Canada. I am actively involved in giving back and furthering Lifesaving Sport in Canada and have received two Awards for my efforts (Royal Lifesaving Society of Ontario – Centenary Medal; Royal Lifesaving Society Commonwealth Award of Merit).
I am currently setting myself up for life after being a high performance athlete by becoming certified as a coach.