Para hockey player Raphaëlle Tousignant, who became the first woman to represent Canada in a major international competition, recently shared that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Tousignant expressed her unexpected journey with these words: “I never envisioned having to face this, not now, not in the near future. Yet, life has its own course.” She bravely acknowledged her recent breast cancer diagnosis, adding, “I have encountered hardships both on and off the ice that have molded me into the person I am today. I have learned to fall and rise again, to endure pain and cling to hope. This battle will be no different.”
At the age of 10, Tousignant underwent a leg amputation due to bone cancer. Hailing from Terrebonne, Quebec, she joined the Canadian women’s Para hockey team at just 14 years old, swiftly establishing herself as a key player within the program. In 2023, Tousignant achieved another milestone by becoming the first woman selected for Canada’s national team in a world championship.
Now 23, Tousignant had her sights set on making history as the first female Para hockey player to compete for Canada in the Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, scheduled for March 2026. While Para hockey at the Paralympics is open to mixed-gender teams, only three women (two from Norway and one from China) have participated in the Games, despite the option for teams to expand their rosters to include an additional female player.
Despite the challenging diagnosis, Tousignant remains resolute in pursuing her dream. She emphasized, “These upcoming months were meant to be the final push towards the Games, an opportunity to secure my spot. I refuse to allow this setback to deter me.” She acknowledged the uncertainty regarding the feasibility of her Olympic aspirations, stating, “I am focused on each workout and ice time, finding new purpose in them. They are my motivation, my drive, my ‘why.'”
Tousignant’s contributions were pivotal in Canada securing a silver medal at the inaugural world women’s Para hockey championships in Dolný Kubín, Slovakia, in August. “This is just another chapter in my journey — not the conclusion, not the entirety of it,” she reflected. “I am navigating this one day at a time, enveloped by love, resilience, and a flame that continues to burn bright.”