Para hockey player Raphaëlle Tousignant, the first woman to represent Canada in a major international competition, has disclosed that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, she expressed her surprise at the diagnosis, stating, “I never thought I would say those words again — not now, not anytime soon. But life has its own plans.”
Having faced numerous challenges both on and off the ice, including the amputation of her leg due to bone cancer at the age of 10, Tousignant shared her resilient spirit, saying, “I’ve learned how to fall and stand back up. I’ve learned how to breathe through pain and hold on to hope. And this fight won’t be any different.”
A native of Terrebonne, Quebec, Tousignant, who is a forward, joined the Canadian women’s Para hockey team at 14 and rapidly established herself as a key player in the program. Her groundbreaking achievement came in 2023 when she became the first woman selected for Canada’s national team at a world championship.
At the age of 23, Tousignant had set her sights on becoming the first female Para hockey player to compete for Canada in the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, scheduled for March. Although Para hockey at the Paralympics is open to both genders, historically, only three women, two from Norway and one from China, have participated in the Games, despite teams being permitted to expand their rosters to include a female player.
Despite the recent diagnosis, Tousignant remains determined to pursue her dream. She stated, “These next months were supposed to be the final push toward the Games, a chance to earn my spot. And I’m not going to let this stop me.” She emphasized the significance of every workout and ice time in her journey, emphasizing that they are her motivation and focus.
Reflecting on her achievements, including helping Canada secure a silver medal at the world women’s Para hockey championships in Slovakia, Tousignant remains optimistic about the future. She remarked, “This is another chapter in my story — not the whole story, not the end of it. I’m taking this one day at a time, surrounded by love, strength, and a fire that hasn’t gone out.”