Francis Guillemette

Start in Racquetball: I started very early because my father played and coached juniors in Sherbrooke. I used to go and watch him coach his athletes and play in the leagues and I wanted to start playing right away.

Reason for playing: The reason I have been playing for many years is that I like demanding sports that require good physical skills. I like the speed and intensity that racquetball requires. I am also a competitive person and racquetball allows me to give it my all.

Training habits: I spend a lot of time in the court either hitting balls alone or playing games. I am a very active person who does many sports and physical activities. I go to the gym 2 or 3 times a week.

Best Racquetball moment: I was lucky enough to participate in the Canada Games in Prince Edward Island in 1991. As a junior, I had a great time. To be able to share moments with many athletes from all sports was a very special moment.

Non Racquetball talents: I am a very involved person in my work as a representative. I am a person who likes to develop new markets and clients and to make the company I work for grow. I believe I am a person who performs under pressure and enjoys any challenge no matter how big or small.

What is something people might not know about you or find surprising? I enjoy fishing and outdoor activities. I enjoy spending time with my family, walking in the mountains and in the woods. I like to play many sports like badminton, baseball, but I also like to spend time with my friends with a good meal.

When you are not playing racquetball, you are probably? I like to read and listen to documentaries of all kinds; about wars, different fishing sites, animals and people from the past.

What advise to you have for athletes who want to play at your level? Never give up, you never know what will happen and where you will end up. Have fun and you’ll be surprised at what can happen. The more time you spend in the field and the gym the more likely you are to get far. Set goals for yourself and even if people try to convince you that it’s impossible, don’t listen to them and go for it.

Who has been important in your development as an athlete? I have always been lucky to have coaches, friends and opponents who have pushed me to the limit and kept me in the sport. They have always said and done things in a way that made me want to come back and feel like I belonged. The challenges were always there and I always found the motivation to be able to accomplish the goals I set for myself.