Bilodeau among Hall of Fame inductees

CALGARY — Alexandre Bilodeau felt the emotion of the moment.

The freestyle skier’s voice shook as he spoke about his upcoming induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Bilodeau’s older brother Frederic, who has cerebral palsy, was on the mind of the two-time Olympic moguls champion Thursday in Calgary. “There’s a whole story of people, a whole team of people that allowed me to find success in this sport,” Bilodeau said.

“My brother has always been part of that journey and has always been part of the performances. He’s done so much sacrifice, my whole family.

“I feel so honoured to be here and they’re part of that journey. All the emotion comes up.”

The 31-year-old from Rosemere, Que., who won Olympic gold in moguls in both 2010 and 2014, is part of a diverse class of 2019 entering the Hall of Fame. NHL goaltender Martin Brodeur and hockey player Jayna Hefford, distance swimmer Vicki Keith, water polo player Waneek HornMiller and Paralympian Colette Bourgonje round out the athlete inductees.

Former CFL commissioner Doug Mitchell and rowing official and coach Guylaine Bernier will enter as builders.

They join 664 other athletes and builders who have entered the hall over its 64-year history.

All but Brodeur were present Thursday at the hall located at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park. Their official induction ceremony will be held in Toronto in October.

Five of the eight are women and two of them — Horn-Miller and Bourgonje — are Indigenous.