“I’m looking forward to having fun”: Canadian para-athlete set to make history in Torino

The Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Winter are a landmark event that young student-athletes will never forget – a sentiment echoed by Charles Lecours as he prepares for his debut at this historic edition.

“I’m more towards having fun in these FISU Games than winning medals. I mean, if I win one it would be incredible but I’m ready to give it my best even if I don’t,” said Lecours, a para cross-country skier studying accounting sciences at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.

For the first time, para-athletes will be competing alongside non-disabled athletes in alpine and cross-country skiing in Torino. “I feel good, I feel a bit stressed but it’s not my first big Games,” he explained. “I’ve done two Canada Games before so I think I know what to expect, what it is going to be like, but this is my first major international event so we’ll see.”

Close to some of his sporting heroes

Lecours, whose first race is on 15 January, is one of many athletes making history at Torino 2025, and his experience so far has been nothing short of remarkable. Being so close to some of his sporting heroes has left a lasting impression on the young man.

“I’m staying in Sestriere, near four cross-country skiers who competed at the 2006 Olympics, and it feels awesome, just to be staying right next to them. It’s a feeling I will never forget”, admits Charles Lacours.

With Torino 2025 marking the first FISU Games in history to include para-athletes in the competition programme, it raises the question: why now?

“We had already some para-athletes in the World University Championships, cross-country for instance. But, it took some time to establish the rules and regulations,” said FISU President Leonz Eder.

“I would say we look now to the present and the future and we are so happy that we have para-student-athletes included in the sports of alpine skiing and cross-country skiing. And we will have them also in Germany for the .”

Eder also expressed his eagerness to expand the inclusion of para-athlete disciplines in both the Winter and Summer Games. Alongside his FISU colleagues, he is working hard to make the Games more inclusive and to engage younger generations in sports.

“We have to clearly evaluate which sport is possible and which host city has the necessary venues to include them [in more sports within the FISU Games program]. But we’re open, especially for modern sports, for more trendy sports for the youth because we would like to address our programme to the young students.”

An important milestone

This commitment to para-athletes has had a significant impact on up-and-coming competitors aspiring to build careers in their chosen sports. Lecours acknowledged the importance of this milestone.

“It’s a great step in the right direction, it definitely shows inclusivity because we, para-athletes, work as hard as the others and we really want to be part of the same party, of the same event, and I’m very proud and happy to be the first Canadian to be able to represent my sport here at the FISU Games.”

The  take place from 13-23 January. Watch all the competitions live on . Click on the link to find the full schedule.

Written by Veronica Andrea Garcia Sanchez, FISU Young Reporter, Mexico

The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.

We warmly thank FISU Official Partner Qiaodan Ltd. which provides remarkable uniforms to FISU Family and International Technical Officials since 2015. Qiaodan is a valuable partner for FISU as it continued to provide its support during the postponement of events due to the global pandemic, and recently extended the relationship with FISU up to and including 2025.