Translated from French

"My name is Maximilien Van Haaster! I’m a proud father of a little girl, a nutritionist at CMME, and a national athlete for Canada. I’ve had the honor of competing in fencing at the Olympic Games three times.

Sports have always been a huge part of my life. I’ve tried several, including figure skating, floor hockey, and soccer – mostly as hobbies. I also took swimming lessons at Regina Assumpta’s sports center. That’s where my parents noticed a fencing club. Like many kids, I loved knight movies, so I started fencing around age 7 or 8. At first, it was just a Saturday morning activity, but gradually I signed up for more lessons. When I was around 10, a great coach joined the club. What luck! His classes were more intense, and since he saw my passion, I kept going. Throughout high school and college, I would rush to the club after school and train until 9PM. This routine helped me progress quickly.

My academic path also prepared me well for where I am today. I completed a degree in kinesiology, and right after graduating in 2016, I participated in my first Olympic Games. After that experience, I decided to further my studies in nutrition because health and nutrition, especially in sports, have always fascinated me.

One of the most influential people in my life is, without a doubt, Maître Henri Sassine, the coach I mentioned earlier. He’s a well-known figure in the fencing world, especially in Canada. Before me, he had already coached eight Olympic fencers. I was the ninth, and there was a tenth after me. Maître Sassine trained me from age 10 until I was 28, just before the pandemic – nearly 18 wonderful years under his guidance!

In the three areas of my life, family, professional, and sports, I feel especially proud of having found balance. The moments I share with my daughter are some of the most precious of my life. As a nutritionist, I feel deeply fulfilled when my patients reach their goals. And as a fencer, my three Olympic appearances are an immense source of pride. But what I’m most proud of is having managed to balance my studies, career, family life, and sports career. Achieving this harmony is what makes me especially proud of myself."