The Essence of Priscilla Gagne

I met Priscilla Gagne at her home in Montreal. She’s an unassuming and extremely personable, self-assured judoka. She has a bubbly personality that makes you want to stay with her longer.

She certainly has had more than her share of challenges, but what makes her stand above the crowd in my mind is not that she has had them; it is how she has met them head-on. Her reaction to the challenges is something we can all learn from.

I, for one, am a huge fan and better for having met her. I would like to thank Greg Butrey for the introduction to this dynamo named Priscilla

Priscilla started Judo at age 22 and has been participating for the last 17 years. She is a Sandan, a 3rd-degree black belt. It’s been eight years since she earned her first black belt at age 30. She started in judo from a chance meeting at an airport. She met a para judo player at the gate; they were going to different destinations. As they spoke, he directed her to the right people to connect with the judo world, and the rest is history.

What challenges have you faced and overcome?

The biggest challenge I have overcome… now that’s a tough one to answer. There have been two major obstacles to overcome, among several others. First is competing against people who can see and were classified as sighted… legally blind, while I am classified as blind. However, I choose to keep the magnifying glass on all the many blessings that come through Judo and in life, rather than on the challenges.

The second, perhaps more difficult, challenge was mental. Integrated training at the I.N.S., the National Institute of Sports in Quebec. It was and still is extremely difficult to find training partners. There are nights when I have nobody to warm up with. I’ve been overlooked when pairing up for sparring and end up standing on the side of the mats. It was difficult, and still is, for me to find training partners. The winter is especially hard because, as a visually impaired person, it is not easy to navigate the snow and ice alone. That is one problem, but when combined with not knowing whether I’ll have anyone to train with once I finally arrive, it makes it that much more discouraging to go. There have been nights in the past when I was fully dressed, putting on my backpack, and, as I reached for the door handle, I asked myself whether it was worth going to training. I admit, more than once, I took off my backpack, stripped off my winter gear, and stayed home. Obviously, not every time, or I would not have gotten where I am. But that was probably one of the most difficult times in my life. 

What drew you to Judo, and what keeps you coming back?

I was drawn to judo because it is a combat sport in which the blind and visually impaired can not only participate but also thrive. As a child, I was told to be careful and kept from competitive sports because I was considered high-risk or because no one was available to guide me. So when I put on the judo gi and took my first barefoot step onto the mats, I couldn’t wait to throw, choke, and arm lock… I love combat sports. I love the challenge of fighting someone. It’s a lot of fun to throw and fly… I prefer to land on a crash I wrestled in high school, but wrestling is not in the Paralympics… But judo is… so my motivation was the Games.

I love the relationships and friendships that are formed. There are people in my life who will always be there, and I never would’ve had the chance to know them if it weren’t for the sport of Judo. 

I love watching the next generation learn, grow, excel, and then achieve. It’s a beautiful sport with beautiful people, and I'm so grateful to be a part of it.

What does your life outside of Judo look like?

Outside of Judo, I enjoy running. I speak at schools and sometimes for other government groups, and at the occasional church. I also offer self-defence classes to both sighted and VI (vision-impaired) people. I sometimes give judo clinics. I am currently working on my memoir and have written two picture books for kids. I also spend some of my time searching out publishing houses. But above it all, I enjoy spending time with my three fur babies, Zophia, a five-year-old lab guide dog; Tilou, a five-year-old grey cat; and Zany, a six-year-old ginger cat. 

Outside of sports, I love listening to music, writing, and dreaming of one day sharing coffee with the great Céline Dion! And currently finishing up my massage therapy school… Working on my massage therapy license.

What Gem would you tell a younger version of yourself or a newcomer to judo?

Keep your antennas up, don’t let a moment pass you by, it could be something great. Recognize it when it’s there and go for it.

Enjoy the journey, yes, strive for excellence and do all you can do to be the best, but don’t miss the beautiful gifts along the way because you’re so focused on something in the distance. If is rarely easy, but it’s possible.