Mr. Speaker, the most impressive athlete at the Athens Olympic Games, boxer Benoît Gaudet of Drummondville, just turned pro.
Aged 25, Benoît has lived great moments in amateur boxing, achieving every target he had set for himself: participating in the world championships, in the Olympics, in the Commonwealth Games and in the Pan-American Games. He is a 10-time Canadian champion and, during his amateur career, he recorded 121 wins and 48 losses.
In a recent interview, Benoît Gaudet expressed disappointment with his Olympic experience and the corruption in the games' organization. He has now joined the organization run by Eric Lucas. His first pro fight is scheduled for February 19.
The people of Drummond are proud of Benoît, of his determination and success, and we wish him the best upon turning professional.