Spokesperson and ambassadors

Jacqueline Simoneau is a three-time Olympian (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024) and world champion in artistic swimming. With 86 World Cup medals, she is recognized for her excellence in sport and remains the first Canadian to win four consecutive gold medals at the Pan American Games.

In parallel with her sports career, Jacqueline is pursuing a doctorate in podiatric medicine and is actively involved in the community. She is involved with organizations such as Cœliaque Québec and Fast and Female, and works to promote inclusivity in sport through her Aqua Unity project with the International Olympic Committee.

She is honoured to serve as a spokesperson for the Jeux de Montréal 2026, which will take place from April 8 to 12, inspiring the next generation of athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and determination.

Alexandre Despatie is the most decorated male diver in Canadian history and a two-time Olympic silver medallist. He burst onto the international scene at just 13 years old with a gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, then went on to make history by becoming the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal in diving at the 2004 Athens Games.

A three-time world champion between 2001 and 2009, he remains one of the greatest ambassadors of Canadian sport. Since retiring in 2013, he has pursued a career in television and was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

An exceptional athlete, she has already made history with 10 World Championship medals. After finishing just off the podium multiple times at the last Olympic Games, she bounced back the following year by earning a bronze medal in an individual event at the Long Course World Championships, a groundbreaking achievement in swimming for a Québec athlete. Her performances also earned her the prestigious title of 2024 Revelation of the Year from World Aquatics.

Beyond her success in the pool, Mary-Sophie is deeply committed to the sports community and the development of future generations. She regularly organizes swimming clinics and conferences around the world, sharing her knowledge and experience with young athletes. Believing that success extends beyond athletic performance, she actively advocates for athletes’ mental well-being and promotes the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between striving for excellence and mental health.

Becoming an ambassador for the Jeux de Montreal is, for Mary-Sophie, an opportunity to give back to the next generation of athletes and inspire young swimmers to pursue their dreams.

Mohamed Auda is a 24-year-old student-athlete. Having grown up in the handball scene in Quebec, a sport still developing in Canada, he won the NORCA (North America and Caribbean Championship) in 2019, which led his team to the first-ever qualification for the World Youth Championships in Canadian handball history. He is currently a member of the senior national team and aims to compete in the 2027 Pan American Games.

Alongside his athletic career, Mohamed also excels academically, pursuing studies in medicine. He is also actively involved in his community by providing medical segments on a television network (AMI-télé). Additionally, having grown up with a hearing impairment, he aspires to start his own foundation to support people with hearing disabilities, both young and old, in the future. He is honored to serve as an ambassador for the 2025 Montreal Games, inspiring the next generation of athletes to chase their dreams with passion and determination.

An internationally renowned figure skater, Marjorie Lajoie perfectly embodies the values of determination, resilience, and passion that drive the Games, serving as a true source of inspiration for young athletes.

Marjorie first stepped onto the ice at the age of three, discovering a lifelong passion. Alongside her partner, Zachary Lagha, she quickly rose through the ranks of Canadian figure skating. Together, they made history by becoming Junior World Champions in ice dance in 2019, setting three world records in the process. This landmark victory highlights their exceptional talent and unwavering determination to join the global elite.

Their remarkable journey continued at the senior level, where they consistently delivered top-tier performances. Marjorie and Zachary have won six medals on the prestigious Grand Prix circuit, secured four medals at the Canadian National Championships, and represented Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. In 2024, they achieved an impressive fifth place at the World Championships, solidifying their status among the world’s top ice dance duos. And this year, the duo will once again represent Canada on the world’s biggest sports stage: the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympic Games!

Beyond her athletic career, Marjorie is deeply committed to causes close to her heart. Passionate about autism awareness, she organizes the charitable ice show Patinage atypique. Through this initiative, she merges her artistic talent with her desire to make a meaningful impact in her community.

A dedicated and passionate athlete, Marjorie is an ideal ambassador for the Jeux de Montréal. She embodies core sporting values such as self-improvement, commitment, and solidarity. Through her role, she aims to share her passion and inspire the next generation of athletes to believe in their dreams and persevere through challenges.

Mégane is a player who began her journey with FC Saint-Hyacinthe, later representing my region at regional selection tournaments. she continued her development at Cégep Garneau, where she won two provincial championships and two national championships. During her college career, she also had the opportunity to represent Lakeshore Soccer Club, before joining A.S. Blainville at the start of the Première Ligue de Soccer du Québec (PLSQ).

With Blainville, she won the PLSQ title in 2020, 2021, and 2022, the PLSQ Cup in 2021 and 2022, and the Canadian League 1 Championship in 2022. Individually, she was awarded the PLSQ Silver Ball in 2018 and 2023, the PLSQ Golden Ball in 2022, and was named PLSQ Cup MVP in 2021 and 2022.

Alongside her club career, she represented the Université de Montréal and the Carabins from 2017 to 2022. With them, won three RSEQ Championships and two Canadian University Championships. she was named to the Canadian First All-Star Team four times, and was also RSEQ MVP in 2022.

Following Mégane’s university career, she signed her first professional contract in Portugal’s top division, Liga BPI, with Valadares Gaia. After a strong season, she was recruited by the Sporting Clube de Portugal, where she signed her second professional contract. After playing with this historic club, Mégane returned home to take part in the inaugural season of the Northern Super League and became co-captain for the Montreal Roses, Montreal’s first professional women’s soccer team.

This season, my goal is to inspire the next generation of athletes.

Hernst Laroche, a Montreal native and proud representative of the Parc-Extension and Montréal-Nord neighbourhoods, began his journey at the William Hingston Gymnasium, where his older brother inspired him to join the basketball world in his 4th birthday. Later playing at Lucien-Pagé High School, Hernst has amassed remarkable successes, winning several trophies and being recognized as the best player three times. His exploits led him to represent Quebec at the U17 Canadian Championship.
After a successful stint with the Cheetahs at Vanier College, Hernst’s university adventure at New Mexico State University was a success, winning the championship twice and participating in the prestigious March Madness tournament. Her excellence was recently honoured by her induction into the university’s Hall of Fame. After a successful professional career in Europe, South America and Africa, Hernst made his return in 2022 to become the captain of the Montreal Alliance team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, making history as the first scorer of the franchise. Currently an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team at Université Laval, Hernst is also pursuing his studies with determination, pursuing an MBA at Université Laval.

Ashraf Tadili is an Olympic athlete and has held the Quebec record in the 800m since 2003. He was a member of the Canadian team for 10 years (1999 to 2009), including 3 World Championships (Paris – Helsinki – Osaka) and 2 Olympic Games (Athens – Beijing). He was Pan-American Champion in 2003 and vice-champion in the 800m at the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2006, as well as 3 times Canadian Champion. Ashraf is currently coaching at the Vainqueur Plus club, having coached several QC champion athletes. In addition, he is a Jouez Gagnant speaker to inspire the youth of tomorrow.

Kenny Ly, aged 17, started playing table tennis at the age of 11, following in the footsteps of his older brother Edward Ly who qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in singles and team for Canada. Kenny has made enormous progress recently thanks to his federation and his team at his own club LYTTA (Académie de Tennis de Table Ly). Over the past six months, he has had the chance to travel to several countries in Europe and Asia to take part in international tournaments and training camps. He has experienced a totally different caliber of table tennis outside Quebec. He recently took part in the Jeux du Québec d’hiver 2024 in Sherbrooke. Throughout the tournament, he managed to defeat all his opponents in three sets to nil in singles and teams. Without losing a set, Kenny went on to win the gold medal in U17 men’s singles and the gold medal in mixed team. He was also named flag bearer for the Lac St-Louis delegation at the closing ceremony. Kenny was a member of the Quebec team from 2019 to 2024, as well as a member of the U13, U15 and U19 national teams. Kenny is currently ranked 5th in Canada in the U19 category. In 2025, he delivers an outstanding season, becoming both the senior and junior national champion, along with earning a bronze medal at the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción. This performance solidifies his international status, and his numerous podium finishes at provincial championships highlight his consistency and dominance in Quebec.

A remarkable athlete, Rose represented Canada at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and later served as the first alternate for both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Her journey reflects exceptional determination, discipline, and a deep commitment to her sport.

Since retiring from competitive gymnastics, Rose has reinvented herself with impressive success. Now a Pilates instructor, she shares her passion for movement and wellness with a new generation of athletes and enthusiasts. She is also an inspiring entrepreneur: founder of Roza, a premium grippy‑sock brand, and co‑owner of Elegant Woos, a gymnastics leotard company she runs with her sister.

Her role as ambassador for the Montréal Games is a unique opportunity for her to give back to the sport, encourage the next generation, and inspire young gymnasts to pursue their dreams with passion and resilience.

A dedicated player since the age of 8, Mei‑Anne built her path by competing at the AA level, all while completing a sport‑study program that shaped her discipline and determination. After moving from Gatineau to Montréal and taking a break during the pandemic, she chose to return to competition as an adult.

Today, as a member of an Open A team, she played a key role in helping her squad reach the Eastern Championship last season.

Originally from Montréal, Audrey discovered artistic swimming at the age of five. Thanks to her exceptional talent and rapid progression, she earned a spot on the Canadian national team at just 16 years old.

Originally from Greenfield Park, Sara discovered flag football in high school after participating in several sports, including ringette and basketball. She quickly developed a passion for the quarterback position—a role she has held since her early days in the sport… and one in which she truly excels!

Aubert made his mark on the national stage at a very young age, becoming a two-time Canadian junior champion in 2022 and 2023. He continued his rise in the senior ranks, earning the title of Canadian senior vice‑champion in 2023 and 2024, demonstrating remarkable consistency and progression.

At the age of 30, Jeannot discovered archery, an unconventional journey that perfectly illustrates that it is never too late to pursue one’s dreams. Thanks to his discipline, talent, and determination, he progressed rapidly and became a member of the Canadian national team as early as 1991.

Having practiced Kin-Ball for six years and coached for five, Benoît has always stood out for his constant desire to grow, learn, and improve in order to provide young people with quality guidance and a healthy environment where they can develop both as athletes and as individuals.

Originally from Montreal, Babette began climbing at just 7 years old and started competing by the age of 8. In 2018, she made her World Cup debut. Since then, she has competed in more than a dozen World Cups and two World Championships, establishing herself as one of the most promising climbers of her generation in Quebec.

Kori Cheverie began her full-time coaching career in 2016, making history as the first woman to serve as a full-time assistant coach within a U SPORTS men’s hockey program, with Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). Her journey has helped pave the way for greater representation of women in leadership roles in hockey.

Originally from Montréal, more specifically the Saint‑Léonard borough, Abdessalam has been practicing karate since the age of 6. Committed to a sport‑study program since the age of 12, a path he continues to follow today, he has developed a strong sense of discipline and consistency that defines his journey. He specializes in kumite, a discipline in which he trains and competes at a high level.

Over the years, Abdessalam has stood out on both the national and international stages. He is a three‑time Canadian champion, a bronze medalist at the Youth League in Mexico in August 2025, and his most notable achievement to date remains his gold medal at the 2024 ISF School Olympic Games in Bahrain.  He also represents Canada in multiple international competitions and is currently ranked among the top 32 athletes worldwide in the U21 category (‑67 kg). Consistently facing the world’s best, he continues to demonstrate steady progress and determination.

Under the mentorship of Éric “Zig” Martel, Vincent quickly entered the competitive scene in 2008 with his crew Stylz Corrupt. Since then, he has taken part in hundreds of international competitions, standing out for his precision, musicality, and strong artistic identity.

He discovered Olympic wrestling several years ago at Club C.L.I.C., located at the Claude‑Robillard Sports Complex, where he quickly developed a strong passion for this demanding sport. Through dedication and perseverance, he steadily progressed on the competitive scene and stood out season after season.

Sarah‑Myriam stands out through a career that is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Having discovered judo at the age of 22, she progressed rapidly to qualify for two Olympic Games, representing Gabon at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, an outstanding achievement in the world of high‑performance sport.