You’ll be familiar with their faces; some of you see them every weekend in the four corners of Quebec, and some of you have been seeing them for years. Always there to ensure your safety, often present to remind you of the rules at pre-race meetings and sometimes, to your dismay, also to enforce the rules and impose (very few) penalties, Triathlon Québec officials play a major role in the running of events. Through this series of portraits, we’d like to introduce you to the men and women behind the whistle. Who knows, it might even inspire you to join the team!

An NTO-level official and member of the Triathlon Québec technical committee, his attention to detail makes him an outstanding official! Today we’re pleased to introduce Claude Boivin.

Triathlon Québec : Hello Claude, could you introduce yourself?

Claude Boivin: I’m a 55-year-old single father. I’m a high school math teacher and textbook author. As for sports, I’ve done a bit of everything: hiking, cycling, martial arts and Nordic skiing. I started running at the age of 42, learned to swim at 45, did my first triathlon at 46 and completed the Ironman at 48. I was training for my second Ironman, which would have taken place on my ^50th birthday, when I was diagnosed with cancer, which put a damper on my plans for that summer.

Triathlon Québec: A temporary brake, since we’ve seen you take part in the 2020 Esprit aquavélo. How many years have you been an official for Triathlon Québec, and what made you decide to become one?

Claude Boivin: I’ve been an official for Triathlon Québec since 2014 and hold the National Official level (NTO). I have officiated at several levels including the Ironman series and the WTS, WC, CAMTRI series, etc. I’m a member ofTriathlon Québec’s technical committee, whose mandate includes reviewing and modifying competition rules based on Quebec realities.

Claude Boivin: Can you tell us a little more about what prompted you to become a triathlon official?

I belonged to a club and believed, at the time, that every club had to have an official among its members. When I saw the advertisement for the official training course, I signed up. It’s also to support my federation and encourage more people to take up the sport.

Triathlon Québec: A false belief that turned out to be a positive one! After all these years, what motivates you to be an official every weekend?

Claude Boivin: There are so many factors that motivate me. The atmosphere on race day, encouraging people to be active, the team spirit within the team of officials, having a front-row seat at international competitions, spending the day outdoors… All these elements put together make it a pleasure for me to return to Triathlon Québec’s partner events every year.

Triathlon Québec: What qualities do you think make a good Triathlon Québec official?

Claude Boivin: I believe that rigor, impartiality and judgment are extremely important. The desire to allow people to participate in a fair, equitable and safe event must be present. Also, it’s a good thing to have eyes all around your head, like a high school teacher!

Triathlon Québec: As someone who has travelled the length and breadth of la belle province, what’s your favourite triathlon event?

Claude Boivin: My favourite event in Quebec, without a shadow of a doubt, is the Quebec Games. Internationally, the World Paratriathlon Series (WPS) in Montreal is an incredible experience.

Triathlon Québec: Can you give us one or more reasons for becoming a triathlon official?

Claude Boivin: Becoming a triathlon official means joining a team of bon vivants, encouraging people in the community to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, and enjoying a great atmosphere among people who are happy to be there and appreciate our presence.

Triathlon Québec: With all these events under your belt, you must have a little anecdote to share with us?

Claude Boivin: It was at the Groupe Copley World Triathlon in Montreal a few years ago. An age-group athlete had just finished the swim portion and was looking through his belongings only to realize he’d forgotten his shirt. Since an athlete is not allowed to compete shirtless, he ran out of the competition site, only to return later with a brand-new T-shirt he’d gone out to buy so he could continue his race.

Triathlon Québec: Thank you Claude for this interview, and see you this summer at our partner events!