It is to Steve LeBlanc that Athletics Canada has decided to entrust the reins of the national athletics team which will take part in the World Summer Games of the International University Sports Federation (Universiade), in July 2023.
This will be LeBlanc’s first international experience as a head coach.
“It was a nice surprise,” revealed the man who combines, among other things, the functions of head coach of the athletics and cross-country programs at the Université de Moncton.
This appointment is obviously the logic of things since LeBlanc has held an assistant coach position for seven international events in the last decade, three at the U20 Worlds (juniors), twice at the Universiade, once at the Games of La Francophonie and once at the Youth Worlds.
“You have to believe that I was there in my journey, reveals LeBlanc. It is certain that my role will be different from what I have known in the past. As an assistant, I had to deal specifically with a particular discipline. As a head coach, there will be more logistics to take care of.
“I also have to make sure everyone is pushing from the same side. There is also a psychological aspect to manage. I have to deal with several different personalities, whether coaches or athletes. Fortunately, I will have a lot of help. The manager of the team Alfredo Villar-Sbaffi, whom I know well, is an exceptional person and I have no doubt that he will greatly help me,” explains Steve LeBlanc.
According to him, four New Brunswick athletes are in a good position to earn a spot on the national team. They are the shot putter Samuel Bourque, from Notre-Dame-de-Kent (Aigles Bleus of the U of M), the distance runner Erin Vringer, of Saint-Jean (Utes of the University of Utah), hurdler Craig Thorne of Quispamsis (University of Guelph Gryphons) and decathlete Ryan Evans of Saint John (University of Iowa Hawkeyes).
“All four have excellent chances,” LeBlanc said. There are also other athletes competing in Atlantic University Sport who have a good chance.”
Athlete selection will take place this spring. The choice of athletes will be made according to the standards established for the competition, as well as by a national committee.
The FISU Universiade will take place in Chengdu, a city of just over 18 million people in the center of the People’s Republic of China. The competition will take off at the end of July on a date to be confirmed.
Besides athletics, the Summer Universiade also includes artistic gymnastics, swimming, badminton, fencing, table tennis, archery, sport shooting, rowing, judo, volleyball, basketball, water polo, taekwondo, diving, tennis, wushu and rhythmic gymnastics.
A busy man, Steve LeBlanc is also Athletics New Brunswick’s High Performance Program Coordinator and the Head Coach of the Moncton Aetos Club.
Note also that the head coach of the University of New Brunswick Reds, Chris Beloff, will act as an assistant coach at the 2023 World Championships which will be held in Budapest, Hungary.
