Tamara Wilscam

Start in Racquetball: I started playing racquetball when I was five years old because of my dad. He was the one who introduced me to this wonderful sport. It started with practices every Sunday in Brossard and I remember I loved it! Soon after, my dad started signing me up for competitions and I haven’t stopped since!

Reason for playing: I play racquetball because I love the intensity of the game and the adrenaline rush. I like to push my limits and give myself challenges. Racquetball is the perfect sport to let off steam and especially to have fun! What I like most is the speed of the game. Since I am an active athlete, racquetball allows me to move with intensity and speed while staying focused on the game. When I play, I feel like I al being in control of everything, and I love it!

Training habits: I train six days a week, three times in the gym and three times in the racquetball court. Monday and Wednesday evenings as well as Saturday mornings, I go to the gym. I work out my cardio, strength training, and explosions. Tuesday and Friday evenings as well as Sunday mornings, I go to the racquetball club. In fact, it’s on Tuesdays and Sundays that I train with my trainer Michel Gagnon.

Best Racquetball moment: My best racquetball memory that comes to mind would be the doubles match at the 2019 Junior World Racquetball Championship in Costa Rica against the Irish. I will always remember this exceptional game! My doubles partner (Ofelia, my sister) and I have never played so well. It was a tough game and we worked hard to finally earn the victory! I loved the tournament atmosphere because Team Canada was in the stands cheerng us on and that feeling of support and encouragement made us give it our all. I loved the team spirit and of course our victory!

Non Racquetball talents: I would say my hidden talent outside of racquetball would be singing! Yes, I sing… a lot! I love to sing; it frees me and it makes me feel good. I often sing with my sister Ofelia. We even won a singing competition at our school in the first year of secondary school! It was so much fun!

What is something people might not know about you or find surprising? Some people who know me know this, but otherwise people who don’t know me would be surprised to learn that Spanish is my native language! Indeed, my mother is Argentinian and immigrated to Canada. The first language I learned was Spanish! So yes, I speak Spanish fluently, I understand it and I write it!

When you are not playing racquetball, you are probably? These days, when I’m not playing racquetball or when I’m not at the gym, I’m studying! I am in the fifth and final year of my secondary and the teachers don’t hesitate to give us assignments! So, yeah, most of the time I do my homework. Otherwise, I sometimes draw and I like it!

What advise to you have for athletes who want to play at your level? The first piece of advice I would give to an athlete wishing to play at the same level as me would be to be organized. Sometimes it’s hard for me to be organized in my schedules, but all it takes is taking the time to divide my tasks and being disciplined to get everything right. Also, of course, there is discipline. You don’t have to wait until tomorrow to do what needs to be done. Do it now and you’ll be grateful for it later! Finally, you have to trust yourself. Having self-confidence greatly facilitates motivation and determination. With effort, hard work and self-confidence.

Who has been important in your development as an athlete? In my opinion, the important factors in my development as a racquetball player were, first and foremost, the exceptional support from my parents and my coach. These three extremely important people were the first to believe in me and my athletic ability. It is my parents who drive me to my workouts every day and even train with me. It’s my dad who, since I was little, has been teaching me and giving me the tools to improve myself. Not to mention my trainer who has also been training me since I was very young! He’s the one who taught me and continues to show me important skills and playing strategies. He’s the one that keeps me improving at racquetball. He saw the potential I had and he continues to believe in me. So certainly my parents and my coach are a big important factor in my development as an athlete and a racquetball player.