A Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau
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- Wednesday, 21 June 2017 04:27

June 19, 2017
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,
My name is Julien Bahain. I am a three time Olympian and Olympic medalist in rowing. I had the honor to represent my father’s country, France, in Beijing and London, and in 2016, the privilege to represent my mother’s country, Canada, in Rio de Janeiro. Before I moved to Canada, I challenged myself and decided to row the Atlantic Ocean. In February 2013, I successfully reached Martinique after 49 days at sea. It was an incredible adventure and probably the hardest I have undertaken.
Last fall, as a Canadian Olympian, I was pleased and honored to meet you in person in Ottawa. As we shook hands in the House of Commons, you said to me: “Canada is proud of you. I am proud of you.” I could not have been prouder on that day. Thank you.
Dear Rowing, I am going to miss you.
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- Wednesday, 22 March 2017 18:40

Dear Rowing,
Just this once, I am going to write to you personally today. After many tries to write this article, hours spent on some vain versions, erasing and starting over, I finished my previous attempt with “Dear Rowing, I am going to miss you”. Only then, I understood that I had to speak from the heart and address you in person.
Yes, I am going to miss you my dear sport. I will stick around and you will still see me on the water as I still want to take advantage of the best you have to offer. However, I feel it is time for me to fold my racing unis once and for all.