Hugo Barrette heading to Olympics after miraculous recovery
Barrette on Olympics: 'I always dreamed of it'
After a scary crash in training that left Hugo Barrette with shattered bones and bruises, many people thought the track cyclist wouldn't survive the incident — let alone hop back on the bike to compete.
Not only did he win his first World Cup medal 81 days later, he's already booked his ticket for 2016 Rio Olympics.
"I've always dreamed of it," said the first-time Olympian at a preview of Team Canada's uniforms in Toronto.
"Of course, I want to do good at the Olympics. But just making it there, I think people underestimate how difficult it is.
"I've had my load of bad luck in the last year, and I've still managed to qualify."
After Barrette won three medals at the 2015 Pan Am Games — including gold in the sprint and team sprint — the joy of summer success gave way to a grim autumn as he took a treacherous tumble in training.
While training on Oct. 27, Barrette lost control and veered off track through a guard rail, crashing into a post at 80 km/h.
He sustained multiple injuries, including two broken lumbar vertebrae, a broken nose, split lip, neck dislocation and a concussion. He briefly lost consciousness.
"Not many people thought I wouldn't survive the accident let alone go back on my bike," said the 24-year-old from Iles de la Madeleine, Que.
"I was really determined to come back and show what I had at the Olympics."
Barrette was cleared for a return to the track three weeks later, and went on to claim his first career World Cup medal in January, winning silver in Hong Kong.
"The hardest part was to keep the focus, never give up, never stop believing," he said.
"I just believed that I could do it despite the odds that were against me. I just never stopped focusing. Granted, I had such a large support staff [of] friends, family behind me that were backing me up and knew I could do it, so that helped."
Barrette has been competing for eight years, but said his recent accident has given him a fresh outlook.
"I think this event not only changed my career but changed my life as well because I've been in a better state," Barrette said.
"I'm just so happy, and I feel so fortunate to do what I do. It's easy to go in and get used to whatever you have, but it's definitely made me realize how much I love cycling and how much I like being a part of events like the Olympic Games."