Alexandre Bilodeau

Celebrating the Gold! (The Vancouver Star)

"If my brother can be happy and smiling then why can't everybody else?" That's what Olympic skier Alexandre Bilodeau said to motivate himself just before he became the first Canadian to win a gold medal on home soil.

I chose this hero because he was the first Canadian to win a gold medal in Canada. He is Courageous because he was only 23 when he reached his goal and he managed to win a gold medal while still having to train and take care of his brother.

His birthday is September 8th, 1987. His birthplace is Montreal, Quebec He was educated at College Montmoreney, and College Jean-Eudes, where he studied Natural Sciences.

In his family he has his mother, Sylvie Michaude, his father, Serge Biladeau, his brother Fredrick, and his sister Beatrice.

When he was 7 years old, he was very good at hockey but his mother got tired of taking his siblings to each game so she suggested skiing, which he loved even more.

Alexandre's heroes are his brother and Jean-Luc Brassard. His brother was his hero because his brother has cerebral palsy which is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement and motor skills. It can also lead to loss of hearing, vision and speech problems. Alexandre often visited his brother's school when he was younger and he was always left speechless watching the kids who have medical conditions, still having a smile on their face even though they are disabled. He is amazed at how much courage they have.

Jean-Luc Brassard is his hero because Alexandre saw him win a gold medal in Moguls at the 1994 winter Olympics in Lillehammer Norway, and said that he wanted to do that as well as him.

Alexandre had to be training, going to college (studying natural sciences), and taking care of his brother, but still managed to win a gold medal. The way he got through doing all of this at once was by watching his brother. He says "If my brother can be happy and smiling every day, then why can't everybody else?"

Alexandre Bilodeau was the first Canadian to win the gold medal in Canada, at the 2010 winter Olympic Games, in Vancouver. He won this in the men's Moguls. When he won this he dedicated it to his brother, and brought him up on stage with him.

Alexandre was a person who had many things to do other than train for the Olympics but he still managed to win a gold medal, but not just a gold medal, he was the first Canadian ever to win a gold medal in Canada.

Alexandre Bilodeau is an amazing athlete! In 2006 he finished 11th at the Olympics and later in the world cup season became the youngest athlete in history to win a world cup moguls event. In February 2009 he won four straight world cup events, and in 2010 he became the first Canadian to win a gold medal in Canada.

Alexandre is courageous, brave, athletic, and respectful. He is courageous because he takes on a lot of responsibility, like training and going to college while trying to spend time with his brother. He is brave because he free style skis and it is very dangerous, and he is respectful because he respects his brother, and other people.

Alexandre influences me and other people because he proved that you can do anything no matter how old you are or how hard the task is.