Thalie Fournier: The Young BMX Rider from Les Cèdres

When the final layers of crushed granite were laid on the new 375-meter BMX track in Coteau-du-Lac in 2013, Thalie Fournier may have been swinging a tennis racket or playing Kinball with her team. One thing is certain: she wasn't yet eyeing a BMX bike, ready to race on the newly built course near her home. But things changed quickly. Her brother signed up for the newly formed club, and soon enough, little sister followed the tracks his tires left behind—on one of the few Quebec tracks capable of hosting national-level BMX events.

Standing Out

At 15, Thalie Fournier is in her second year of the cycling sport-study program at Chêne-Bleu High School and trains at Centre Multisports. What sets her apart isn’t just her performance—but the fact that she’s the only girl in the BMX group.

“BMX is at the center of everything I do,” she explains. “If I wasn’t doing BMX, I’d be bored. I’d be doing what everyone else does—living a normal life. But this makes me different.”
Thalie isn’t afraid to be the only one. Despite often being grouped with girls of different age groups in competitions, she remains committed and continues to improve her place on provincial and national circuits.

Following Her Brother’s Tracks

Thalie was introduced to BMX by following her older brother.

“At first, I didn’t love it,” she admits. “I was just doing it to be active.”
That changed during her first-ever race, which happened to be at the Quebec Games. That’s when something clicked. She shifted from recreational to competitive riding, eventually joining the elite team and committing her summers to racing.
“What I love most is the feeling of racing, of pushing myself, of failing but still trying again. That’s what motivates me.”

Blazing Her Own Trail

Girls are still a minority in the BMX world in Quebec.

“You need more than eight riders to qualify for finals, and we’re often only four or five girls,” she explains.
Yet, things are evolving. More girls are joining, often inspired by brothers or peers. Thalie now races across the province and beyond—including Calgary and, recently, South Carolina, where she competed in her first world championship.
“We were 75 girls in my category. I didn’t qualify, but I loved the experience. I even traded my jersey with someone from another country. I’ll never forget it.”

Balancing School and Passion

Thalie maintains her academic rigor with the same intensity she brings to the track.

“If I don’t hit my goals, I get discouraged. It’s the same at school—I aim high, and I work hard to get there.”
She dreams of studying medicine one day and thrives in science subjects. While she sometimes misses downtime and social moments, she knows her path requires sacrifice.
“If I don’t have a good training session, it affects my mood. But we all have ups and downs. And in our group, we often go through them together.”

From a little sister following in her brother’s footsteps, Thalie is now paving the way for others—whether on a BMX track or in a high school hallway.

“Being able to try new things, fail, and keep going—that’s what pushes me to continue.”