Go World: Team VISA’s Benoît Huot

Comments 108 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Visa is currently sponsoring a handful of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls (and some who have become champions already) as they have done for the last 26 years. They have partnered with me to showcase members of their team like bronze medal-winners Brent Hayden of Mission and Emilie Heymans, and today’s feature moves on to the Paralympics with swimmer Benoît Huot.

He was born with a clubfoot and after years of surgery and physio, he gained partial use. Benoît started swimming competitively at age ten and catapulted to fame in 1998 when he won two gold and four silver medals at the International Paralympic Committee World Championships. He now holds more than three world records and has over over 40, spanning three Paralympic Games, three Commonwealth Games and four World Championships. [Paralympic.ca]

In the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, he added to his winnings three gold medals and three silver medals and eight more medals at the IPC World Championships in 2002 in Argentina. Benoît then won five gold medals and one silver at the Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004, while setting three world records. In 2005, Benoît won six gold medals at the Disability Sport England Swimming Championships and finally a gold medal and one silver at the first Paralympic World Cup in Manchester. [BenoitHuot.com]

Benoît won 4 bronze medals at the Beijing Paralympic Games and said that it was one of the greatest experience of his life. Cheer him on in his freestyle swimming events during the London 2012 Paralympics August 29th to September 9th, 2012.

VISA Canada has offered up a $250 pre-paid gift card to one lucky Miss604 reader to celebrate Canadians cheering for Canadians. Here’s how how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment naming the Olympic or Paralympic sport you like to watch the most (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a $250 pre-paid #VISA #GoWorld gift card from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/cQZQL

Continue to cheer on your Canadian athletes through Team VISA on Facebook and by using the tag #GoWorld on Twitter.

You can still enter to win on the Brent Hayden and Emilie Heymans posts as well. I am publishing one final post tomorrow and one winner will drawn from all entries on all Team VISA posts on Saturday, August 11 2012 at 12:00pm. This contest is open to all Canadians residents.

Update The winner is Shannon Mac!

Current Contests on Miss604
*All contests are open to residents of Canada only, unless otherwise stated. Contest timelines are published on each individual post along with entry methods. Some contests may only be open to those 19 years of age and older. Winners are announced on the contest blog posts. Contest policy »

108 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. BonnieThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 10:44am PDT

    The Olympic sport I like to watch most is tennis.

  2. Donna LThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 10:45am PDT

    Hockey, hands down. Then figure skating. And speed skating. And and and!

  3. JanetThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 10:48am PDT

    I watch swimming and diving the most.

  4. Ray MaddlyThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 10:50am PDT

    I love watching swimming (and realise how technically poor my swimming skills are).

  5. ShelleyThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 10:55am PDT

    Soccer

  6. VirginiaThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 10:59am PDT

    Winter Olympics: hockey & figure skating
    Summer Olympics: gymnastics
    Winter Paralympics: Ice-sledge hockey
    Summer Paralympics: No favourites yet 🙂

  7. Adina H.Thursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:13am PDT

    I enjoy watching the Olympic running events, like the 100m dash.

  8. CliffThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:17am PDT

    Curling, from the winter olympics.

  9. BrendaThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:18am PDT

    Figure skating and gymnastics

  10. Jocelyne L.Thursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:18am PDT

    Trampoline!

  11. JustineThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:33am PDT

    Can’t pick a favourite but I prefer to watch sports that don’t get much coverage outside of the Olympics. I’d like to watch rugby in this year’s Paralympics. Hope it gets on TV!

  12. KayThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:48am PDT

    Volleyball!

  13. AndreaThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:51am PDT

    I like watching hockey!

  14. KatrinaThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 12:11pm PDT

    it is always the gymnastics that are my favorite.

  15. ElenaThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 12:19pm PDT

    Volleyball

  16. LindaThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 12:23pm PDT

    For the Olympics, I like watching indoor volleyball; for Paralympics, it’s sledge hockey.

  17. Aliana SlotThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 1:03pm PDT

    What sport don’t I love watching, but VBall (volleyball) is up there!

  18. Kathy E.Thursday, August 9th, 2012 — 1:14pm PDT

    Hockey!

  19. roy whitneyThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 1:15pm PDT

    bronze medal womens soccer. after all that happened they kept their heads up and went for it. happy for them

  20. Gary TThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 1:22pm PDT

    To me the marquee event in the Summer has always been the 100 m. Still remember Donovan Bailey’s win, and love seeing Bolt make history

  21. GarrettThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 1:29pm PDT

    Favourite sports: Handball, handball, and of course, handball.

  22. ChelleThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 1:30pm PDT

    Gymnastics

  23. Steve Zussino – Grocery AlertsThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 1:42pm PDT

    Volleyball.

  24. BreeThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 2:04pm PDT

    I love watching gymnastics and hockey!

  25. BreeThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 2:07pm PDT

    Posted on twitter: https://twitter.com/freebreeluv/status/233670253157154818

  26. GideonThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 2:19pm PDT

    Skiing in general, but the downhill is tops!

  27. CyndiThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 2:40pm PDT

    Hockey!

  28. Vancouver AirbnbThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 2:42pm PDT

    Gymnastics

  29. SandyThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 2:44pm PDT

    Swimming

  30. DarcyThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 3:02pm PDT

    Hockey…of course!

  31. nance428Thursday, August 9th, 2012 — 3:52pm PDT

    swimming

  32. dave604Thursday, August 9th, 2012 — 3:52pm PDT

    volleyball

  33. Kelly B.Thursday, August 9th, 2012 — 3:57pm PDT

    Swimming. So intense!

  34. VonThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 4:41pm PDT

    Skiing!

  35. Jenn SThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 4:50pm PDT

    I love to watch the diving.

  36. GaryThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 5:00pm PDT

    Track

  37. laurel k.Thursday, August 9th, 2012 — 6:13pm PDT

    I love to watch the swimming in the summer olympics

  38. Don MThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 6:44pm PDT

    Diving is my favourite

  39. AnnaThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 7:58pm PDT

    My new favourite after today is Women’s Soccer!

  40. Siobhan S.Thursday, August 9th, 2012 — 8:02pm PDT

    Diving is so impressive!

  41. JagThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 8:05pm PDT

    Track and field – esp. the 100 metre race

  42. ELSA CThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 8:06pm PDT

    Gymnastics!

  43. BalThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 8:15pm PDT

    I love any chance to watch soccer (men’s and women’s) – first Euro, now Olympics – I’m loving it!

  44. LoriThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 8:25pm PDT

    Sprints.

  45. Sherry FThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 9:29pm PDT

    I like the wheelchair basketball and absolutely was on the edge of my seat for the Women’s soccer this week. Christine Sinclair was/is amazing.

  46. JeffThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 9:33pm PDT

    Hockey!

  47. BettyThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 9:45pm PDT

    Diving

  48. BekkiThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 9:46pm PDT

    Whatever sport has Canada playing!

  49. NancyThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 10:49pm PDT

    Diving

  50. kahhleeThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 10:49pm PDT

    Swimming

  51. Cole BaikerThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:25pm PDT

    Love the swimming, great sport!

  52. HarvThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:50pm PDT

    tennis

  53. RubyThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:55pm PDT

    100 metre race

  54. DonnaThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:55pm PDT

    swimming, running & gymnastics

  55. JackieThursday, August 9th, 2012 — 11:59pm PDT

    Paralympic football 7 a side!

  56. Matthew SFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 12:46am PDT

    Tennis

  57. EMFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 7:09am PDT

    All Athletics…especially the Men’s 100m

  58. LindaFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 8:08am PDT

    For the summer Olympics, I like watching the martial arts events – taekwondo or judo.

  59. debbie fFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 8:18am PDT

    hockey for sure.

  60. gregFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 8:18am PDT

    hockey

  61. Amber TurnauFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 8:25am PDT

    My favourite Olympic sport to watch is probably the rowing. It’s action packed and those athletes work HARD!

  62. Brian GFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 8:31am PDT

    I enjoyed diving the most. You don’t get to see it often enough on tv, and it’s really easy to get into and be your own judge!

  63. DeidreFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 8:48am PDT

    Soccer!

  64. HisayoFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 8:56am PDT

    Hockey

  65. PuckFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 9:34am PDT

    In summer? Fencing! Winter? Hockey or ski cross.

  66. StephanieFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 10:11am PDT

    I enjoy watching all the track events.

  67. TeresaFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 10:16am PDT

    I’ve always loved watching the excitement of hockey the most.

  68. KristaFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 10:22am PDT

    Rowing!

  69. JeanneFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 10:26am PDT

    Gymnastics

  70. ChristineFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 10:34am PDT

    For the Summer Olympics, beach volleyball. For the Winter Olympics, hockey!

  71. rinoFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 11:17am PDT

    Rowing

  72. taniaFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 11:18am PDT

    Diving

  73. AndreFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 11:41am PDT

    Decathalon

  74. VinceFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 12:46pm PDT

    Hockey!

  75. JuliaFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 12:46pm PDT

    Soccer and diving!

  76. Cheryl (@loucheryl)Friday, August 10th, 2012 — 12:51pm PDT

    The Olympic sport I like to watch most is Synchronized Swimming!

  77. Elizabeth BFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 1:18pm PDT

    Winter: hockey Summer: gymnastics

  78. MichaelFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 1:21pm PDT

    hockey

  79. Ginger Leah GervaisFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 1:34pm PDT

    Diving!

  80. RobertaFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 2:10pm PDT

    Paralympic Basketball really does it for me!

  81. DanaFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 2:15pm PDT

    I watch as much as I can fit in, but I like swimming and the decathlon above all else.

  82. lindawwwwFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 2:40pm PDT

    I love ice skating, especially dance and pairs.

  83. TamaraFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 2:41pm PDT

    Synchronized swimming!

  84. SadieFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 3:01pm PDT

    Gymnastics! Such precision, flexibility and strength necessary. I truly admire their hard work.

  85. KarenSFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 3:16pm PDT

    Judo! Or Gymnastics! Fantastic!

  86. MarkFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 3:36pm PDT

    I’ll be watching volleyball!

  87. JamesFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 3:56pm PDT

    Diving!!!

  88. AmyFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 4:05pm PDT

    Boccia!

  89. Maureen MFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 4:06pm PDT

    Women’s weightlifting-what amazing strength! (definitely wouldn’t want to mess with these athletes)

  90. TracyFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 4:33pm PDT

    i love watching gymnastics

  91. SheilaFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 4:34pm PDT

    Wrestling!!

  92. TimFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 4:37pm PDT

    would love to see 100m sprint in person!

  93. stacey dempseyFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 5:05pm PDT

    the gymanstics and skating has always fascinated me

  94. CarlieFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 5:11pm PDT

    Diving and gymnastics

  95. Karla SceviourFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 5:24pm PDT

    I love watching the gymnastics.
    ksceviour at hotmail dot com

  96. Lou (@davids_deardad)Friday, August 10th, 2012 — 6:12pm PDT

    I love to watch the diving.

  97. MariekeFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 6:17pm PDT

    Swimming & syncronised-swimming 🙂

  98. NancyFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 6:45pm PDT

    I love gymnastics. The men are so strong and the women can do so much.

  99. CGFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 6:58pm PDT

    For winter, Ice hockey. For summer, Rowing!

  100. BonsFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 9:11pm PDT

    Gymnastics and swimming!

  101. BillFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 9:53pm PDT

    soccer

  102. Leanne MFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 11:02pm PDT

    Hockey, swimming and gymnastics!

  103. Leanne MFriday, August 10th, 2012 — 11:06pm PDT

    https://twitter.com/leanne_macg/status/234168954795479040

  104. KellySaturday, August 11th, 2012 — 6:07am PDT

    Tennis!

  105. bcSaturday, August 11th, 2012 — 8:57am PDT

    Speed skating in winter. track cycling in summer

  106. TonySaturday, August 11th, 2012 — 1:51pm PDT

    Wrestling

  107. IainSaturday, August 11th, 2012 — 2:29pm PDT

    Kayaking

  108. GlendaMonday, August 13th, 2012 — 10:27pm PDT

    figure skating

Also on Miss604.com
«
»