Marc-André Bédard (biathlete)
Encyclopedia
Marc-André Bedard(born February 19, 1986) is a Canadian
biathlete
.
Bédard was born in Valcartier, Québec
and started cross-country skiing as a kid. At the age of fourteen he changed to biathlon. His role-model is Olympic gold medalist Myriam Bédard
. In an interview he once stated, that it was his dream to finish as the winner in an Olympic race like she had in the 1994 Winter Olympics
, in Albertville
, France
.
Since 2004 he has started in European races regularly. He competes in the European Cup
and in European continental championships. His first appearance was in a relay event, the first race as a single starter was in 2006. Still in cadet's age he also competed at the Junior World Championships in 2004, 2005 and 2007, winning two silver and a bronze medal with the Canadian relay team with fellow teammates Jean-Philippe Leguellec
and François Leboeuf as well as Maxime Leboeuf, Brendan Green
and Yannick Letailleur respectively. He became Canadian champion in the sprint competition 2004 through 2006, and finished among the top three in almost every other Canadian championship race. In 2006 Bédard finished third in the North-American championships in the pursuit event.
His first win was in a European Cup race which came on March 12, 2008 when he finished the sprint event in first place. The base for the win was laid in the shooting range clearing all targets. He became only the third Canadian biathlete to win an international competition after Olympic
and world champion
Myriam Bédard and Sandra Keith
, who had won a European Cup race earlier in 2003.
He is confirmed to go to the Olympics Games of Vancouver in 2010. It's going to be his first presence at the Olympic Games. He will be in the Canadian team.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
biathlete
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
.
Bédard was born in Valcartier, Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and started cross-country skiing as a kid. At the age of fourteen he changed to biathlon. His role-model is Olympic gold medalist Myriam Bédard
Myriam Bédard
Myriam Bédard, MSC is a Canadian biathlete , winner of two Olympic gold medals.-Olympic career:Born in Neufchâtel, Quebec, Bédard learned marksmanship as a member of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets' 2772 cadet corps, which she joined at the age of 15, and participated in her first biathlon event at...
. In an interview he once stated, that it was his dream to finish as the winner in an Olympic race like she had in the 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
, in Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Since 2004 he has started in European races regularly. He competes in the European Cup
International Biathlon Union
The International Biathlon Union, IBU, is the international governing body of biathlon. Its headquarters are in Salzburg, Austria.- History :The International Biathlon Union was founded on 2 July 1993...
and in European continental championships. His first appearance was in a relay event, the first race as a single starter was in 2006. Still in cadet's age he also competed at the Junior World Championships in 2004, 2005 and 2007, winning two silver and a bronze medal with the Canadian relay team with fellow teammates Jean-Philippe Leguellec
Jean-Philippe Leguellec
Jean-Philippe Le Guellec is a Canadian biathlete.Le Guellec began competing in the biathlon in 1999, and joined the national team in 2003...
and François Leboeuf as well as Maxime Leboeuf, Brendan Green
Brendan Green
Brendan Green is a Canadian biathlete and cross-country skier. He began skiing at three years of age and began competition under coach Pat Bobinski. He won Biathlon Canada's Myriam Bedard Award. Brendan competed for Canada in the Biathlon Men's 4x7.5km Relay at the 2010 Winter Olympics...
and Yannick Letailleur respectively. He became Canadian champion in the sprint competition 2004 through 2006, and finished among the top three in almost every other Canadian championship race. In 2006 Bédard finished third in the North-American championships in the pursuit event.
His first win was in a European Cup race which came on March 12, 2008 when he finished the sprint event in first place. The base for the win was laid in the shooting range clearing all targets. He became only the third Canadian biathlete to win an international competition after Olympic
Biathlon at the 1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics Biathlon results.The sport of biathlon combines the skills of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.- 10 km :February 23, 1994- 20 km :February 20, 1994One missed target equals a one minute penalty.- 4 x 7.5 km relay :...
and world champion
Biathlon World Championships
The first Biathlon World Championships was held in 1958, with individual and team contests for men. The number of events has grown significantly over the years. Beginning in 1984, women biathletes had their own World Championships, and finally, from 1989, both genders have been participating in...
Myriam Bédard and Sandra Keith
Sandra Keith
Sandra Keith is an Olympic Games biathlete for Team Canada. She is a previous gold medal winner. She is part of Canada's team in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.-Personal life:...
, who had won a European Cup race earlier in 2003.
He is confirmed to go to the Olympics Games of Vancouver in 2010. It's going to be his first presence at the Olympic Games. He will be in the Canadian team.