The bell had just rung at the Olympic base. Thibeault left the blue corner and punched his opponent hard in the face. The majority of her shots then hit the target and the Dominican went to the mat after just 40 seconds.

The referee stopped the fight with eight seconds left in the first round. This was the third time he had checked on Castillo.

“The ice is broken!” Tammara Thibeault quickly summarized as she left the ring. “I always get nervous before a fight. Even though I have a lot of experience, I still have butterflies and feel alive! I’m really happy with the fight and being here. »

When introduced by the announcer, Thibeault quickly turned around and greeted the Canadian team members in attendance to encourage them. A reception that gave her wings and led her to this first victory.

“It feels really good to be so supported! This means everything to me. Yes, it’s an individual sport, but we work as a team. It’s not always easy, but at the end of the day we stick together. »

The quarterfinals of his category will take place next Tuesday, his opponent has not yet been determined.

The path traveled

Tammara Thibeault is taking part in the Pan American Games for the second time. She was the youngest Canadian boxer in Peru in 2019.

In the semifinals she suffered a split decision loss to Colombia’s Jessica Caicedo. The latter then won the gold medal, but lost it a few months later after an anti-doping control. Result: Thibeault’s bronze medal was replaced with a silver medal.

The Shawinigan athlete asserts that she has developed greatly over the next four years. “More mature, more experienced and more Fun Also ! » she emphasized.

Her track record speaks for itself, including a first Olympics appearance, a world title and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

The medal exchange at the Pan American Games in Lima is reminiscent of that of the Canadian head of mission in Santiago, Christine Girard, who experienced a similar situation at these two Olympic appearances. In an interview with Sportcom, the former weightlifter and Olympic gold medalist explained how these events shaped her both inside and outside of sport.

This view is shared by Thibeault, who in the coming days will try to qualify for the Paris Olympics by reaching the final of her category.

“I want to live in the moment, I try to absorb everything that is happening and focus on my fights. It’s still an Olympic qualification, but the only way to qualify is to take it one step at a time. »

Victor Tremblay on Thursday became the first Canadian boxer to fight at the Pan American Games in Santiago. He lost to Brazilian Luiz Gabriel Do Nascimento Chalot Oliveira in the 57kg draw. On Saturday, Montrealer Keven Beauséjour will step into the ring against Chilean Julio Alamos Mumbru in the 80kg category.