Mikaël will live his brother Jordan’s dream

Jordan was always telling his brother Mikaël that one day, they’d participate together in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. But Jordan died in a cycling accident at the age of 27.

So on October 13 of this year, Mikaël Charbonneau-Lemaire will be on the big island of Hawaii to participate in the legendary 40th championship event. He’ll be alone, but riding his brother Jordan’s bike. His story, which the jury saw as an example of courage and perseverance, won him the cross-Canada Subaru “Road to Kona” contest. Mikaël was chosen from among more than 2,000 participants.

“The Subaru Canada team is incredible,” says Mikaël. “There are lots of ways to advertise, but I consider this one to be very respectable and respectful, because it allows people to achieve a dream, which is marvellous. My only problem is in accepting that I’ve won; there are many other people who deserve it, as well.

“Kona is a huge challenge,” Mikaël continues. “But no mountain is too high to climb. This is a dream my brother had. I’m going to use this opportunity to determine the calibre of the athletes in my category, because I’d like to be able to qualify one day and deserve my spot, as Jordan would have wanted.”

Two brothers, one passion

In spite of their age difference, starting when they were little boys, Jordan and his big brother Mikaël immersed themselves in all the sports. At the time, they lived at lac Labelle. “They were like twins,” their mother Sylvie Charbonneau confides. “Mikaël dragged his brother with him everywhere.”

Initiated into triathlon as volunteers for the first 70.3 Mont-Tremblant, in 2012, Mikaël and his brother Jordan really caught the bug. From that time, they trained hard and they participated in many 70.3 events. Their father, Réjean Lemaire, is in on the adventure.

The final sharing

A few months after the terrible accident, which happened on July 16, 2017, on chemin Duplessis near the P3 parking area, Sylvie and Réjean had Jordan’s bicycle repaired – the frame was still intact – and offered it to Mikaël. “He told us it was the best gift anyone could give him,” says his mother Sylvie, obviously moved. “He participates in all the races riding it.”

“I don’t consider it to be a homage,” Mikaël explains, “and I absolutely don’t want to attract attention. I simply consider that Jordan is lending me his bike. For me, it’s a way to keep sharing something with my brother,” he confides.

The white bike

A family walk in memory of Jordan was held on July 16. Jacinthe, a family friend, had a bike painted white to place it where the accident happened. This symbolic step, better known under the name “Ghost bike”, aims to sensitize cyclists and car drivers to the risk of road accidents. The following day, the Ville de Mont-Tremblant had the bike removed.

“Bad things happen every day,” says Mikaël. “Brothers lose their brother and mothers lose their son. The goal is not to attract sympathy. On the other hand, if the Ville de Mont-Tremblant agreed to pay tribute to my bother by leaving the white bicycle where the accident occurred, I would consider that a fine thing to do and it would bring me a great deal of comfort.”

Sylvie Charbonneau is currently approaching the Ville with a view to having the white bike installed permanently.