‘Illness cannot stop us’, cancer survivor Lina Courtois inspires at World Aquatics Masters

SINGAPORE – Lina Courtois, 74, is a breast cancer survivor. For this feisty veteran athlete, age and condition are no barriers when it comes to sport.

At the July 26-Aug 22 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore, the Quebec native competed in not one, but three different disciplines: open water swimming, artistic swimming and swimming.

The meet is her first appearance on the international stage since she began her first rounds of chemotherapy in 2023 – she was first diagnosed in December 2022.

When asked why she chose to compete in three categories, Courtois’ quick-fire response was “why not?”.

That same defiant spirit has seen her through challenges – both in and out of the water – such as her battle with breast cancer.

The Canadian said: “I want to prove that illness cannot stop us. It can slow us down, but we can still keep training.

“I want to participate to give hope to others who have cancer too. I want to show a (cancer) diagnosis is never the end.”

Her love for swimming began in the lakes in Quebec when she was 16. The former physical education teacher competed in local events and subsequently in Masters competitions around the world.

This is Courtois’ fourth outing at the World Aquatics Masters Championships after Riccione (2012), Montreal (2014) and Budapest (2017).

She did not go to the last two editions in Fukuoka (2023) and Doha (2024) owing to her cancer diagnosis.

In July 2023, she had her right breast removed and it has been “good news” for the last two years, she added.

In addition to the 3km open water race, Courtois competed in the solo technical and solo free (artistic swimming), and swam in the 800m freestyle, and 200m and 400m individual medley.

She decided to compete in three disciplines as she relishes the peace of the open water, the precision of artistic swimming and the challenge of improving her swimming times.

In the 3km event on July 26, Courtois was one of 10 swimmers who competed in the 70-74 age group, but she did not finish as the rules state that participants have to complete the first 1.5km in 45 minutes in order to proceed to the second lap.

But beyond the times, scores and laps she has recorded in Singapore, it is her grace and grit that have truly embodied her warrior spirit.

Courtois said: “During the last world championships, I watched from my hospital bed because of chemotherapy. My oncologist told me that I had to pause my competitions. But I decided that I would get my revenge on the disease. I decided that I would thumb my nose at cancer.”

Her coach Sandrine Lemire told Canadian broadcaster Ici Radio-Canada Tele that she is inspired by her charge’s work ethic.

Lemire said: “Despite her illness, she worked really hard and was there for every training session. She always has a smile on her face. She would have chemotherapy in the morning, then came to train in the evening, and she always had a big smile on her face. It was really inspiring to see.”

While Courtois has come to accept that her strength and speed are not the same as before – she spent less time training in the pool while undergoing treatment – she found resolve instead. It is the message she hopes to send to others, even as she returns to Canada with no medals around her neck.

“After my cancer, my doctor told me to forget all competition for the future so for me, it is mission accomplished to compete in all the events I did,” said Courtois.

“I want to tell others who have cancer to not say ‘I am sick and I am going to sleep’. Keep your dreams alive. After my cancer, I had to accept and adapt. I kept going and I am here. I treat each training and each moment in the water as victory.”

The World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore features around 6,000 athletes aged 25 and above from about 100 countries and territories competing in swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming and open water swimming.