A young athlete of the visually impaired Montérégie and suffering from a genetic disease will realize his dream of training with Georges St-Pierre on Monday at the gymnasium of this mixed martial arts champion.
“I hoped with all my heart that he accepts, but I did not have expectations. When I learned the good news, I jumped for joy, I did not believe it, “enthusiastic William Fleury, a young man on the South Shore of Montreal who, through the Shine Foundation, will be able to realize the dream of many sportsmen.
Stéphan Fleury
Aged 18, he suffered from a CBLC type methylmalonic acid deficit, an orphan disease, explains his mother, Anie Tremblay.
Paralympic ambitions
In addition to living with intellectual disability, he has a heart malformation, a weak muscle tone and little fine motor skills as well as lesions on retinas.
But that does not prevent William from being an accomplished sportsman. In addition to his love for alpine skiing, he “competitions not roughly” in a provincial paranatation, he says, overflowing with pride.
Stéphan Fleury
“I train to go to the Paralympic Games,” he said, confidence in the voice.
Represent Quebec
A follower of martial arts, he also practices judo in addition to training in boxing, hence his particular interest in Georges St-Pierre, who “represents Quebec well”, according to William.
“It gives me self -confidence and I feel more safe. I don’t need to defend myself, but I tell myself that if something happens, I will know how to do it, “he said in an interview with The newspaper The day before his meeting with the one he admired for his resilience and perseverance.
But William boxing training also has a direct impact on its concentration, its dexterity and its muscle strength, rejoices Mme Tremblay.
“When he started a little over a year ago, he couldn’t jump to dance. Today, it is super good, ”she gives as an example.
Some preparations
Since he knows that he will train alongside the one who is considered one of the greatest martial arts athletes of our time, “he talks about it every five minutes,” laughs at the sportsman, stressing that he is “well aware of the luck he has”.
To prepare, William went to the Sorel boxing center, where he trains with his father, a little warm up.
“I practiced my grounds, but I took it relaxed,” assured the one who does not want to injure himself before the big day.
At the end of the week, he also took the time to watch videos of old fights from the one nicknamed “GSP” … and to buy markers to autograph his equipment.
