Getting to Know Canadian Pro Antoine Jolicoeur Desroches
Taylor Reid interviews Quebec-based pro Antoine Jolicoeur Desroches.
Year of Birth: 1993
Height: 5 ’10
Coach: Pierre-Yves Gigou
Taylor Reid: What distance in triathlon is your specialty?
Antoine Jolicoeur Desroches: I am currently competing at the 70.3 distance and I might do the Long Distance ITU Championship next year, which is a bit longer so it would be a good step toward competing at the full Ironman distance in a few years.
TR: Where are you from?
AD: Montreal
TR: You are still in school–what are you studying?
AD: I am currently doing a double bachelor in Food Science and Nutrition Science at McGill University.
TR:How did you start racing triathlon as a professional?
AD:Two years ago I was competing on the ITU circuit and I broke a small bone in my hand during a crash in a ITU Pan Am Cup in Mexico and I had to miss most of the racing season. That gave me time to think about whether I wanted to continue competing as an ITU athlete or give the non-drafting racing a shot. I decided to compete at 70.3 Muskoka at the end of the season as an Age Grouper and I really liked it. I won my Age Group and finished 6th overall so I thought that maybe I could compete as a pro so I decided to give it a try.
TR: What was your first triathlon?
AD: My first triathlon was actually a duathlon because on the day of the race the swim was cancelled! At the time I was competing as a cross-country skier and I simply wanted to get in shape for the ski season but I really liked my experience. I trained for both sports for a few years but then decided to focus entirely on triathlon.
TR: If you could go on a vacation anywhere in the world where would you go?
AD: I would like to go to Nepal. I’m fascinated by the mountains and there are so many huge mountains over there. I would also like to experience life in the climbers’ basecamp. I have read so many climbing articles, books and seen so many pictures and movies that I must travel there one day.
TR: What’s your favourite discipline in triathlon?
AD: That’s a really hard question! I have had many running injuries so when I’m injury free and I manage to get a good block of running training under my belt, I appreciate even more the fact that I’m running. So, I would say that running is my favourite discipline. I especially love to run in the trails.
TR: Do you have a saying or mantra that you like?
AD: Never Stop Exploring. I really like this saying because it has many meanings. It not only means to go outside and explore new countries, new mountains or new trails, but it also means to explore yourself and discover other passions and talents that you would have never thought you had and to explore your own limits.
TR: Do you have a favorite TV show?
AD: Without a doubt it’s Big Bang Theory!
TR: If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you would buy?
AD: I would use most of the money for the conservation of our forests; I would like to purchase a big land to protect it from deforestation. Also I would give some money to organisations that work to preserve our forests. Forests are so important, not only for the environment, but also for our well being, physically and mentally. I live next to a huge forest and I’m on the trails almost every single day so I don’t want to see it disappear. Finally, if I still have some money left I would buy a van, convert it into a mobile house and pimp it with solar panels and travel everywhere, explore, train and enjoy life!
TR: Who supports you in the sport?
AD: I am sponsored by Skechers, Nineteen wetsuits, Smith Optics, Kronobar, Liquid IV, EC3D compression, K-way, NaturSource, Martin Swiss Bike Shop, Spherik fat bikes and Compex. I am also very fortunate to have had the financial support from La Clinique Chirurgicale de Laval for many years and I am also supported by Triathlon Quebec. Also, next year, I will be part of a new team of six pro triathletes.
Follow Antoine:
Twitter: @antoinejd1
Instagram: antoinejdesroches
Facebook: Antoine Jolicoeur Desroches
