Maximilien Van Haaster Interview
As we get closer to the Tokyo Olympics, we're excited to bring you a great interview today with an athlete who is set to compete in only a couple of weeks time, Canadian fencer Maximilien Van Haaster! We learn from Max just how he got into the sport of fencing and how the different disciplines of the sport, and the sport in general, work. He also takes us through his experiences in Rio and what his hopes are for Tokyo, as well as giving us an insight into just what preparations he is currently doing with the games so close. It's a great chat which we know you won't want to miss, so get to listening!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Please note this is an automated transcript that may contain errors.
BEN WATERWORTH: It is Off The Podium, An Olympics Podcast coming to you today for Episode 101. Have you listened to our 100th episode? If not, stop listening to this right now and go listen to that, because it was a lot of fun to do that. No, don't stop listening to today, because we have an amazing interview coming your way today. We are on the cusp of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It feels like it's been forever, because it has. It's been longer than four years, but weeks away. And we are so delighted today to bring you a guest who is literally getting on a plane in hours, in only a couple of days, to board it and go to Tokyo to compete in his second Olympic Games in the sport of fencing, a sport that we have not had anyone on this show before, continuing on our goal to get an athlete on every sport, from every sport, from each of the winter and summer games. Maximilien Van Haaster is his name, and as you'll hear me say in just a few moments, perhaps the coolest name guest we have ever had on this show. And this is a great chat with Max. Takes us through everything from how we got into the sport of fencing, teaches us a little bit more about fencing. Obviously, this is a sport that, for most of our listeners in Australia and Canada, they might not be too aware of. So what the different categories, the disciplines are in the sport, what the differences are, how the scoring works, and everything along those lines. It's very fun, it's informative. I learnt a lot from interviewing Max here. And just a very insightful chat takes us through his career, winning bronze in the Pan Am Games in 2019, and his hopes coming into Tokyo, a real medal prospect for Canada, a sport that Canada has never medaled in, ever, in any Olympic Games. Neither has Australia, but difference is that Canadians actually have athletes going to the Olympics in this sport. So I have a chance to do that in Tokyo. So without further ado, here is our chat with Tokyo Olympian, Maximilien Van Haaster.
BEN WATERWORTH: We are weeks away from the Tokyo Olympics, and it's very exciting to have our next guest on the show for a myriad of reasons. Not only is he the first athlete we've had on this show from the sport of fencing, he's an athlete who in a matter of days is getting on a plane to fly to Tokyo to compete in his second Olympic Games. He competed back in Rio in the foil in the fencing, and he's going to be doing the same in a couple of weeks' time. It's a pleasure to welcome, and I'm going to say this name because this is maybe the coolest named athlete we've ever had on this show. Maximilien Van Haaster, or we're going to call him Max today. Max, welcome to the show. I'm sorry, I'm in love with your name, and it's an incredible name.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, hi Ben. I'm happy to be here too.
BEN WATERWORTH: I have to say with a name like that, there was no other sport for you but fencing, right? Like, I mean, this sounds like you should be like a pirate or some sort of, you know, swashbuckler or something like that. I mean, it was destined that you got into this sport, surely?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, I've heard that a lot. So, I mean, I find it's a cool name, so I'm happy other people find it too.
BEN WATERWORTH: I told our co-host about you being on the show and straight away he said exactly that with the name. So I was like, wow, that guy's got the coolest name, I think. But fencing's a very fascinating sport, very obviously traditional Olympic sport. It's basically been at every single Olympic Games since 1896. It's kind of one of the core sports that people think about when they think about the Olympic Games. But it's a sport, I think, outside of some parts of the world, it's not often maybe talked about or kind of one that's really kind of known a lot about it. So I'm intrigued to know, Max, how do you get involved in the sport? I mean, was it a simple case of look at my name, I have to do fencing, or was there more to it than that?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: No, actually, it's more popular in Europe because of the history of fencing kind of started in Europe. North America, it's not very popular. So I kind of got into it because when I was young, I really, I was very athletic. I've tried many different sports. I loved all the medieval movies, medieval stories, that kind of thing. So my parents found a club in the same sports centre where I used to take swimming lessons. And so I started there. I was seven years old and I was hooked since then.
BEN WATERWORTH: And in terms of when you first see it and you're hooked and all that sort of stuff, I mean, kind of outside of that swordplay and everything like that, like when you start doing it, kind of like what do you look at it like? Are you thinking like, well, this is fun? Like, this is a little bit different to what I was thinking of. I mean, kind of when you first pick up the sword, like kind of what's going through your mind and if is it living up to kind of what you were thinking it would be like?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, I think at first I was kind of maybe disappointed that it didn't, it wasn't sensing like in the movies, right? So maybe that was the first little disappointment, but I really got into the fighting aspect and the technical aspect. So that's kind of what got me started in the sport.
BEN WATERWORTH: In terms of the terminology now, as I said, you're our first fencer on this show. So I want you to pull me up on anything that I say incorrectly or anything along those lines. I mean, in terms, is it a sword? Is it a simple case of it's a sword that you are holding or is there more of a technical term that you use in fencing outside of sword?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: No, actually, so in fencing, there are three different disciplines or different weapons. So I'm a foilist. So I use a foil. So our sword is, we call it a foil. So the foil, the other one is the épée. So the word is épée, which is just a French word for sword. But even in English, we say épée. And then the third is saber. So they use the saber.
BEN WATERWORTH: And this is probably a question you get often asked, Max, but how can you differentiate? Like what is the difference between the épée, the foil and the saber?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So there are two main differences. So first, the target area. So in foil, the target is basically the front, the chest and the back. So the easy way to picture it is like a one piece bathing suit. The saber, the target area is anything above the waistline, except the hands. And then épée, the target area is the whole body. So from head to toe, everything counts. So that's the first difference, the target area. And the second difference is how you can hit the opponent. So in foil and épée, you have to hit with the tip. So with the end of the sword, let's say sword. And then in saber, you can hit with the whole blade. So on the side of the blade or the point, anything goes.
BEN WATERWORTH: It sounds like saber is just for angry people. They can just hit anywhere with any part of the sword, basically. Like you just get your anger out and just swash away.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, saber is like the fastest of the three weapons. And there are sometimes some nasty slashes, I would say, in saber.
BEN WATERWORTH: And is it a matter of then in choosing your discipline? Does it come down to, I guess, certain skill sets? Like maybe you're more fendessing with the tip in sort of the two categories where you use it rather than the whole bit? Or is it like what you're saying there with the speed aspect? Is it more of a case of certain athletes are suited to the more technical side of things rather than the speed side of things?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Well, it usually comes down to sometimes just the coach at your club. So where you started, some coaches specialise in one or two of the weapons. So obviously if you start at a club where the coach is a sabre coach, you're gonna be a sabre fencer. Otherwise sometimes, and that's the case for me, if the coach is proficient in all three weapons, usually they'd have the students start in foil because it's a good gateway where you can transition after to epee or to sabre. So that's how I started. My coach was, he had all three weapons, but everybody started as a foillist. And then some people decided to change. I don't remember why I stuck to foil. I don't really remember having the option to change, but I'm very happy with how it turned out.
BEN WATERWORTH: Is it a sport where people are able to do all three or two of the three, like if you're certain way, or is it a case of you really do always kind of sort of focus on one of the three and that's your area of fencing?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: The highest level is you focus on one. Obviously, the younger and the age categories that are a bit younger, sometimes you have athletes that can do like two weapons, that 99.9% of the time, at the highest level, you choose one because the training is so different. You only have X number of hours in a week you can train, so you really focus on one. There's really just one exception. There's one Italian who's a foil fencer, who has multiple, multiple World Championship Olympics, World Cup medals and foil. And she decided she wanna do saber at the same time, and actually worked out incredibly well for her. She did medal at a World Cup in saber, which is unheard of. Unfortunately, she didn't really pursue that way. I think her federation didn't want her, wanted her to focus really on one, especially leading up to the Olympics. But other than that, just to answer the question, you focus on one weapon at the highest levels.
BEN WATERWORTH: So there's not gonna be like a Michael Phelps of fencing where all of a sudden they're gonna come out and win like six gold medals in the individual and the team events of each of the categories, essentially.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: No, no, that won't happen, at least not in Tokyo. Maybe eventually in a couple of years, some incredible fencer will be able to do all three, but no, right now, it's just you focus on one.
BEN WATERWORTH: In terms of the equipment, do you use the same swords in each of the categories? Or is one, does each of the, does foil have a different sword to sabre and epaille, or are they kind of all the same? It's just the rules that are different.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: No, the weapons are different. I think for the casual person that's never seen fencing, they probably can't tell the difference on TV. But the foil, so what I do is the most, it's the lightest weapon, I would say. It's the most flexible. And then you have the epee that's a bit stiffer, it's a bit heavier. There's a bigger bell guard, which is what protects your hand. And then the sabre also has a bigger guard just to protect the hand. There are minute details that for a fencer, it's very obvious that for the person that's never seen fencing before, it's pretty hard to distinguish.
BEN WATERWORTH: So when you're going through those junior ranks and kind of working your way up, you obviously at some point realise, well, this is the sport for me. This is what I want to kind of pursue as my career. What's it like when it comes to sort of equipment and things like that? Obviously, you need your foil to use, but then obviously you've got the protective gear. Is that something that when you go to this club where you start off, they've got a certain amount? Do you kind of have to source it out yourself? Do you kind of have your lucky foil that you always use? I mean, kind of like, how does that generally work with equipment as you're going through the ranks essentially?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Mm-hmm. So most of the clubs, they can either they rent the equipment or they have a bunch of equipment there to use for the kids. Obviously, it would be very difficult for somebody just starting the sport at six, seven, eight years old to have to buy the whole equipment. It'd be very costly. So most clubs, they lend you some equipment. Then obviously, as time goes by, you start buying, I think my first piece of equipment was a glove, just because, I mean, you don't want to use the sweaty glove that somebody else just used, right? So the glove was the first equipment I got, then the mask, and then slowly, you buy more and more equipment. Then you ask about lucky foil. So when you go to competitions, we always have between four or five or six foils just because electrical things break, things don't work. It's very frustrating, but it's part of the sport. But we always try to have them be as similar. Let's say all six foils, we want them to be the same. Obviously, it never works out perfectly. So there's always the one foil that just feels better. And you hope that that one lasts the whole event and the whole competition.
BEN WATERWORTH: I can imagine it's fun transporting them then when you do go to competitions that you're just basically carrying a bag full of weapons, essentially. I mean, is that you need to call up like Air Canada and get like special dispensation? Or do you just pretend they're hockey sticks or something like that?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I usually just say it's a golf bag because it's basically the same dimension as a golf bag. Most of the time, I don't have to, sometimes you have to pay extra. It depends on like the airline, but most of the time I don't have to pay extra for the big bag. Usually it just goes to oversize. And I mean, the people at the airport in Montreal, I get to, you see them over and over, so they recognise me now when I, well, maybe not now because it's been like a year and a half. We almost barely travelled, but before that, they would recognise me at the airport here.
BEN WATERWORTH: I can't imagine though that like coming to Olympics, you guys are probably aren't all, you know, with the rings emblazoned and the maple leaf and kind of like, hey, like Team Canada going to the Olympics. Like, you know, this should be a pretty smooth process right now.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, it should be okay. I think they're not, they're probably not many people at the airport either. So it should be, should be pretty smooth.
BEN WATERWORTH: Was there a point, Max, when you had started this that you did kind of go, okay, this is what I want to do. And then was there another point when you thought, okay, goal is the Olympics. This is, this is the peak of the sport. This is what I want to do. I want to go to an Olympic Games in fencing.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So I think one of the, actually, I just learned this like two days ago because I was at my parents' house, and we were talking about this. And they told me that, so I started fencing around seven, I said, and a bunch of other interviews, I said I started at nine years old, which was, I just lied to everybody else.
BEN WATERWORTH: Exclusive on Off The Podium right now.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: And they told me also that in second or third grade, I wrote for school, I wrote this paper, saying that I want to go to the Olympics. And I mean, obviously, I don't remember doing that, but that's pretty cool that so young, I already knew what the Olympics were, even though my parents, they're not athletes, they don't watch any sports on TV. Probably before I got serious into sports, they probably didn't even know what the Olympics were. I mean, they obviously knew what it was, but they would never watch the Olympics. So it's kind of weird that I kind of wanted that young to go that route. And then, so just to follow up on your question, so around, I think, nine or ten years old, I was at the same club, there was a new coach, and he had, his name is Henry Sassin, and he had, previously, he had many Olympians in fencing, and as soon as he started out with me and with the other fans who's at the club, it was clear that his objective was to coach us and to bring us to the Olympics. So I think that's when it really, it really became like the main focus. And then fast forward a couple of years, in my junior years, there was one competition where it was Poland, it was a Junior World Cup, and I finished third, and that was the, my first big accomplishment in fencing, my first big result, so that's kind of what even brought it as a more realistic goal. So I think those are the main points that brought me to where I am today.
BEN WATERWORTH: And in terms of the sport in Canada, sort of at the period when you were in it, I mean, what was the scene like? Was Canada producing many Olympians? Were there many Canadian athletes going to the Olympics in the sport of fencing? Or was it still developing to the point you are today? Kind of, do you know sort of how it was going when you were sort of in those early days?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I wasn't really paying attention to it when I was young. I mean, now I learned about the history of fencing in Canada. And I think in like the 80s or early 90s, the level was higher. There were more Olympians. And then there was kind of a couple of down years in the 2000s. And then let's say in Rio, I think we were five fencers from Canada that went to Rio. And now in Tokyo, we're going to be 11. So obviously, there were a couple of down years. And now it's going back up. There are many more fencers, young fencers, starting off in Canada and across the country, in Vancouver and Toronto, in Montreal. So I think the level is coming back up to where it was in the 80s or early 90s.
BEN WATERWORTH: And is there anything that's attributed to that? It's just been a case of more people have been interested in it or sort of a bit more exposure with things like the internet, being able to people see it a little bit more or things like that? Or is it just the federation has sort of recruited a little bit better than they used to? And maybe here you are with this, you know, quite a large team obviously going to Tokyo.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I think one of the big reasons for the popularity growing, it's positive, but it's also not always positive. One of the big areas is the state became really good in fencing these last couple of years. So the popularity grew in the states. So as a result, it also grew a bit in Canada. And one of the big things is in the states, fencing is often, it's a very good sport to get a scholarship, an NCAA scholarship in the states. So that kind of helped with the popularity there. A lot of athletes in Canada also use fencing as a way to hopefully get a scholarship in a good university in the states. So that's, I think, one of the big reasons why the popularity of the sport is growing here.
BEN WATERWORTH: Is it also a case of, obviously, we were talking before about how it's huge in Europe, obviously, with the French connections in somewhere like Quebec, where you're obviously from. Is it kind of, say, is Quebec the province where it sort of is more popular than, say, it would be in, say, a BC or an Alberta just because of those French connections and how popular the sport is in a place like France?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Not at the moment. When I was younger, yes, when I was younger, Quebec was by far the biggest province fencing-wise in Canada. But right now, Vancouver has a very big club, many, many fencers are coming out of Vancouver. Toronto is also a big fencing hub, I would say, so a lot of fencers are coming out of there. I think Quebec is, the number of fencers is not, it's not going down, but it's not going up as much as it is in Toronto and Vancouver. So I think the balance of power, let's say, has shifted a bit more towards the other provinces.
BEN WATERWORTH: In terms of your progression, then, going through the ranks you were mentioning before about, the junior championships and all that sort of stuff, at what point were you thinking that this is, obviously, as I was saying before, what you kind of want to do, but this is something that when the Olympics are realistic and that you can kind of get to a point where, of course, you want to go to an Olympics, but then ultimately achieve an Olympic medal or something like that. Obviously, you want a medal at the Pan Am Games and we'll talk about that shortly. As you're getting better, I guess, as you're progressing through the ranks, is it kind of a case of, this is something that I can progress and I can not only just represent my country on the world scale, but I can actually do quite well at this?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So I think one of the big aspects of that is, as I said, so I had around nine or ten, I had a new coach. His goal was always focused on the Olympics, right? So it was kind of, I was almost brainwashed, as a young kid said, it was not an option. It was just the natural course of things. I will go to the Olympics. So there was never a doubt in my mind, really. Obviously, at first, when you're young, you don't really think about it. It's just the natural progression. And then I made the first national team in 2011. So I was 19 years old, just turned 19. And then so I stayed on the team. I didn't make the Olympic Games in 2012. I didn't really try to go to the Olympics just because my teammates were stronger than me. They had more experience. So one of my teammates went to 2012. And then 2013, I meddled with the Pan Am Championships. I kind of became the... I was not the oldest on the team, but I had the starting to get the best results. So then starting in 2013, I had 2016 as an objective. And I kind of knew the whole way. I don't want to say I knew that it was going to go, but it was... That was the only option for me. I mean, there was no option of not qualifying to 2016. So that's kind of how it all played out.
BEN WATERWORTH: What's the qualification process in for the Olympics? Is it a case of on the circuit, you're ranked a certain place, and then if you're in a certain ranking, you get qualification? Do you have to go through a regional qualification tournament? I mean, how do you get that nod to go to the Olympics?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So it's a bit complicated in fencing. I don't know other sports, however, it's been in fencing. So there's obviously the individual aspect of fencing, but there's also team fencing. Many people might not even know that you can fence in team in fencing. But that's the main way to qualify for the Olympics. So let's say for these Olympics in Tokyo, the men's foil team, the Canadian men's foil team, qualified as a team because we were, so how it works, there are eight teams that go. The top four in the world, so one, two, three, four, and then the best of every other continent. So one from the Americas, one from Europe, one from Asia, and one from Africa. And the US are number one in the world at the moment, so they're safe in the top four. And then the next best team in the Americas was Canada.
BEN WATERWORTH: Right, so that kind of helps.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, so obviously it helps when the, well, I mean, it helps, it doesn't help also, but we knew going in that the US were going to be in top four, so our main rivals were Brazil. In 2016, unfortunately, we didn't qualify as a team. The Americans were top four. And then it was us against Brazil, and we finished tied in points at the end of the qualification year. Because of the tiebreaker, they finished second at the Pan Am Championships. We finished third, and that was the tiebreaker, so they went as a team. And then I was qualified as an individual because that was the next best ranked individual in the Americas. Now for Tokyo, we were in front of Brazil in points, so we got the second place for the Americas. And then there's one Brazilian athlete that was the next best qualified individual that's going to Tokyo, but just as an individual.
BEN WATERWORTH: So with those teams then, if, say for example, the US qualifiers number one, does that then mean that each of the members of that team also qualify for the individual tournament as well?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, so how I worked in fencing, there are three, and the team is three fencers plus one alternate. So now for the Olympics, the three that are the main fencers, I guess, they also fence individual and team. And then the fourth, the alternate, only is there for the team.
BEN WATERWORTH: Right, okay. So given that Canada as a team doesn't qualify, and you get that nod, I mean, how is that feeling? I mean, obviously, you know, to qualify for an Olympics, but kind of, is it almost a bittersweet when you obviously would have loved it that your team at the same time to qualify and not just yourself?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, so we're talking about Rio. So yeah, the team unfortunately didn't qualify, and it was very hard on us. I mean, it was hard on me, but even more for my teammates that didn't go at all. We had a very strong team. The two other fans with me on the team, they were a bit older than me, had a lot of experience, went to a lot of world championships, a lot of Pan-American Games, Pan-American Championships. It was unfortunate for them. The context of the whole quadrennial between 2012 and 2016 was a bit complicated for our men's foil team. We didn't really have a national team coach. We didn't have everybody was... We were trying to make new training. Nobody was really planning our trainings. I had a personal coach, but we didn't have a Team Canada coach. So we often went to competitions by ourselves without a coach. We had some very good results. We made two top eights at World Cups, which were very good results for us. All that without a coach, which is pretty remarkable. Unfortunately, things didn't turn out the way we wanted to. We didn't qualify the team. It was very unfortunate. And then fast forward to this quad between 2016 and 2021 now. Our team is younger, so I'm now the oldest on the team. There are two guys that are born in 2000. It blows my mind how young they are.
BEN WATERWORTH: That was yesterday, wasn't it? That was 20 years ago.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Still, I can't wrap my head around it. Anyways, our team has less experience at the moment, but the big difference is that now we have a national team coach who helped us a lot, who structured our training, comes with us to competitions, to World Cups, to World Championships. And we really have a better structured program. So that was the big difference why we didn't qualify in 2016 versus now in 2020, 2021.
BEN WATERWORTH: As someone with no athletic ability, Max, I always have to live through our guests on this show, that Olympic experience. But we always like to find out your first Olympics, how that all is. Do you take it in? Do you get to the village and realise you're here? Do you wear your uniform when you get given to it? And then even things like the opening ceremony, things like that, if you get to experience that. I mean, do you soak it all in, or are you just so focused on competition that it's something that you don't really take in at the time?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: It's kind of a mix of both, I think. The one big wow moment, I would say, is when you get to the village, and then the first day when you get there, you have the fitting for all your clothes, all your Team Canada clothes, all the gear. So that was very fun just to get your suitcase and all your t-shirts, your hoodies, the pants, all the Team Canada gear. After that, for the opening ceremony, I decided not to go in Rio, just because my competition was two days after the opening ceremony, and we were told that it was very far away from the village. It would finish very late. We would get back to the hotel very late. So I decided not to go in 2016, just to be more focused on the competition. Now in Tokyo, I'm going to go to the opening ceremony. Right.
BEN WATERWORTH: That was my next question. That's good.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah. I don't know what the ceremony is going to look like. Obviously, with COVID, it's probably going to be a bit different. But now I have three days between the ceremony and my event, so I have more time to, even if I go to bed late, I have more time to recover between the ceremony and my event. So I think my first Olympics, really, I was more focused. I would say I didn't live the whole experience. I think now in Tokyo, I'm going to try to absorb a bit more. Obviously, I'm going to stay focused for my events, but I think I'm going to try to absorb a bit more the whole Olympic experience.
BEN WATERWORTH: In terms of the format, so I'm sort of looking here in terms of how Rio worked out. So you go through, you win the round of 64, then you go out in the round of 32. Is it the lower ranked fences essentially that maybe don't make those quotas that you were talking before kind of battle it off in a round of 64 for those last qualifying spots? Because obviously, just judging on the bracket here, there's only a certain amount of round of 64s that obviously allow the fences to go into that round of 32. So is it almost like a qualifying round for you to get into the main bracket? Is that how it works?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I would assume it's not considered like a qualification just because I think in Rio, we're 36, so maybe 38, something like that, fencers. So it just happens that if there are more than 32 fencers, they have to fight it out for a 32, for the bracket of 32. And yeah, it works in world rankings. So number one will fence number 64. And if there's no number 64, well, he gets a bye to the round of 32s. So yeah, I was lower ranked, so I did have to fence about a 64, and then I had, I won that bout, and then unfortunately lost in the round of 32s.
BEN WATERWORTH: To an American too, Max. Like that's, you know, it's got to be the worst person to get eliminated by, right? Like you'd rather go out by, you know, like the French or the Italians. Not an American, come on.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, well, he's a very good fancer. He has many, a lot of medals. One of the best. I think he's one of the pioneers of the American foil fan thing. So, I mean, he's a very nice guy. He beat me, and then he bought me a beer right after.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, there's a silver lining, not quite a gold medal, but, you know, a beer's up there, I think. I mean, in terms of the scoring, how does the scoring work? Because, I mean, look, I'll be honest with you, whenever the Olympics are on, fencing is one of these sports that I always love to watch, because whenever there's a sport that I am not familiar with, it always fascinates me more. Like, okay, swimming, great. Australia, we're going to win medals in it. I say that all the time, but I'm never going to see fencing. I don't know if Australia's had fences outside of Sydney when we would have had ones qualifying for the Home Olympics. So, I mean, take us through a brief overview of how you're getting these points in it. Is it a simple case of you hit someone on the body, it's a point, or is there more to it than that?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So, in foil fencing, there are priorities. So, there is always a judge, and the judge is there to decide who gets the point. So, obviously, if we're fencing, if I touch you and you don't touch me, I get the point just because I'm the only one to hit. But if we both hit, then it's the referee that decides who gets the hit. And he decides using right of way. And right of way, basically, it's very comfy. Even fencers, we don't understand it all the time. But if we boil it down to the simplest form, the fencer that initiates the attack first has priority. So if I initiate the attack first and then we both at the same time, I get the point. If the opponent... So either you initiate the attack first or you have to defend yourself. So what we would call like a parry is basically a block. So if you initiate the attack first to get priority, I have to block your attack. And then if I block your attack and then we both hit together at the same time, it will be my priority since I blocked your first attack. So that's the basics of right away.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's a sport that like the thing I love about it is just that passion when all of a sudden you'll see like you both kind of charge at each other and then all of a sudden it's hitting you both like a scream, like you celebrated the point, then all of a sudden it kind of goes to the referee. And I mean, I want to liken it to boxing in a way, just kind of how it goes at, but it's, I guess it's not as, I mean, boxing is more of a timed round where it's sort of almost like there's just you guys are eyeing each other off and then you go in for a move and then kind of it sort of stops to, I guess, get the point judged, right?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Well, in fencing, it goes the direct elimination bouts, they go to 15, and then there are three, three-minute rounds with a minute break between. So it's the first to 15 or at the end of the time, whoever is leading wins the bout. So that's kind of how it works. So there are rounds, I guess, but sometimes some bouts, they go so quickly that they don't even take up the first three-minute rounds. So it really depends on the defences, sometimes they're more aggressive, that the bouts, win or lose, they go by very quickly. Sometimes other fences, they're more defensive, so they take the whole three periods. So really, it depends on the bout.
BEN WATERWORTH: Because I can imagine it's very strategic, that I can imagine that there are some fences who are very all-out, attack, I'm going to go in no matter what, or you are more defensive. I mean, is it a case of yourself, Max, are you one-way, or does it just depend on the day your coach is saying, okay, you're up against, you know, Gerrick, he's a much more offensive fencer, so you need to play defence? Like, does it depend on who you're facing?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: It depends a bit on who you're facing, but mostly on just the way you naturally fence. So I'm naturally a more offensive fencer. Doesn't mean I'm all-out attack all the time, but my natural inclination is to be a more offensive fencer. Most of the time in foil fencing, especially in men's foil, most of the athletes are offensive fencers just because there is, in the rules, there is a tendency to... The attack is always usually stronger than the defence just because of how right of way it's called. There are obviously some fencers that are extremely good in defence, so their game is more a defensive style. But personally, I prefer being an offensive fencer, and that's kind of... When everything goes well and my attacks are hitting, that's where I feel the most comfortable.
BEN WATERWORTH: What's that feeling like when you do land a nice hit, and all of a sudden you hear it? Because there's a sound isn't there, isn't there? Like the sensors, they get a sound off. I can kind of imagine you're in some of these competitions, you've got the sound going off, crowd going up. You must be getting pumped up with the adrenaline.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, obviously the machine does make a beeping sound when somebody hits. So on the days where everything's going well, it's obviously, it feels effortless. Everything, some days like that, everything you do just works out well. Even if you make mistakes, you end up with a point. Other days, you do everything well and you miss or the opponent does something just a bit better than you. That's part of the sport, right? So I think it's part of any sport that some days everything is going very well. You can't make a mistake. And other days, well, anything you try, everything fails and nothing goes well. And you just hope that the next time it will be you have a better experience.
BEN WATERWORTH: Did you set yourself a goal for Rio? Was there sort of a target that you gave yourself? And were you satisfied with how you ended up after the Olympics?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: My goal? I mean, every competition I want to come back, I want to come back with a medal. I mean, that's always the goal. I don't like setting goals that are even though... I don't like setting goals that are top 16 or top 8, just because if you get there and you achieve your goals, does it mean that you stop trying? Or do you go further? I think the ultimate goal of all athletes, especially the Olympics, is to bring back a medal. I mean, nobody even though finishing fourth is an awesome result, nobody really remembers who came fourth, right? Everybody remembers who had gold, silver and bronze. So that's really the objective I had in Rio and it's the objective that I'm going into Tokyo with. So no, in Rio, I was not satisfied with my results. It was my first experience at the Olympics, my first big competition. So I wasn't happy. I was happy with the whole process of qualifying, of getting all the way there, going with my coach that was with me for so many years. The whole process of getting there was awesome, was a huge achievement, but the result itself at the Olympics in Rio, I was not satisfied with.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, in terms of the progression since Rio, I mean, obviously you came away with the bronze at the Pan Ams in 2019. You've also finished 16th at the 2018 World Championships. So, I mean, the progression, are you satisfied with kind of how that has gone in the lead up to Tokyo? And with that, sort of, how are you feeling with that idea to come away with the medal? I mean, it sounds like something you're quite confident that this is something you could achieve in a couple of weeks' time.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, absolutely. I think since 2016, I'm a very different fencer from 2016. I think my game has evolved a lot. Like I said, I'm a more offensive fencer. I think around in 2016, between when I was younger, in those years, I had, that was my only option. I was an offensive fencer. I was going to try to attack and get the point. If things weren't going well, I didn't have a plan B. Now, since that time, I've developed more of my defensive game. So I'm a more well-rounded fencer. So I still have the option, obviously, if my attacks are hitting, I'm going to be more offensive. If that's not working, I have now the option to be a more defensive fencer. So I've mastered my sport more in these last few years. My results have gotten better and, most importantly, more consistent, especially these last two, three years, I've been more consistent. That was a big problem of mine when I was younger. Now my results are more consistent. I feel like I master my craft better. So that's why I'm very confident in these Olympics coming up.
BEN WATERWORTH: I'm also seeing here that at the Pan Ams, in the semi, you also lost to Mr. Gerard Meinhardt. I'm kind of feeling there's a bit of a rivalry going on. I bought you a beer, but I mean, God, come on. I want to see this coming. Is he competing again, Gerard? Can you get some sweet revenge finally in a couple of weeks?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: He will be competing. He'll be there in the individual and team. I don't think he's in my bracket, at least for the beginning. So maybe if we both get far, we will fence off. But yes, in 2019 at the Pan Am Games, he beat me in the semis. But in the year before, in 2018 at the Pan Am Championships, I beat him in the semis. I got one on him at that competition, but he got me back in 2019.
BEN WATERWORTH: Good. Well, I'll tell you what, when we're keeping an eye out when we're doing our daily episodes during Tokyo, Max, I'm going to be keeping an eye out for this guy. And I'll tell you one thing, if I see you guys meeting in one of these rounds, it's on. We're going to send all the bad luck charms to him. We can. You tell me, you tell us what you want us to do, and we will make sure that this Garrett guy... I don't like this Garrett guy. Buy you a beer. I'll dislike him for you.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Next time I fancy him in Tokyo, if I end up fancying him, I would really love to beat him, just to get back at him for real.
BEN WATERWORTH: Did he buy you a beer after Lima, or was that only an Olympic thing? He doesn't do it at the Pan Ams?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Only Olympic thing. So I guess if I beat him in Tokyo, I'm going to have to buy him a beer.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, well, you know, see how you feel though. Like say that that is a podcast, I said, no, no, you don't get a beer basically with that. So in terms of the brackets and everything like that, do you know who you're fencing in the first round in Tokyo? Have you kind of got that already, or is that still yet to be decided in the last couple of weeks?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So we know they do a coin flip for every two spots, let's say. So if you're one in two in the world, there's a coin toss to see if you're going to stay second or you go first. So that being said, you kind of know who your bracket's going to be, at least for your first bout. There are two fencers, so it's a 50-50 chance. It's either an American or a guy from Hong Kong that I'm going to have to fence in my first bout. Then again, with COVID, with everything, we never know what's going to happen. If people test positive, what's going to happen. But let's say everything goes to plan, nobody tests positive, I'm going to fence either an American or a Hong Kong fencer.
BEN WATERWORTH: Right, and do you have a preference, or do you not want to tell us? Like, is this something that you would rather not, if they listen, you know, find out who you would rather take on in that first round?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I don't have a preference. I mean, either way, I have to beat them. Whoever it is, I'm going to have to beat them, so it doesn't really matter who I'm going to be fencing.
BEN WATERWORTH: The other thing, too, which would be amazing, and I'm not going to say if you win a medal. Of course, I'm going to say when you win a medal in Tokyo in a couple of weeks, Max, is that Canada's never medaled in fencing at the Olympic Games. So to go into that with that knowledge, you know, like, I mean, that in itself is kind of a cool little thing that you could potentially be the first Canadian to ever medal at an Olympic Games in fencing, I should say.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, I think in 2004, the Women's F18, they finished fourth, so they just lost out in the bronze medal bout. But yes, with the medal, I would be the first Canadian fencer to medal at the Olympics, unless another fencer. I mean, my event, my individual event, the last individual event. So I mean, I hope that somebody, another Canadian before me is going to medal, and then I could be the second or third or fourth Canadian to medal at the Olympics.
BEN WATERWORTH: First gold medallist maybe, a couple of bronzes and silvers, and you get the gold. Exactly, maybe. It could be like the Canadian dominant Olympics in fencing, you never know.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: That would be awesome. I'd love it. It would be very good for fencing in Canada. It would be good for the young fensers here. Just have role models. So hopefully we bring back multiple medals.
BEN WATERWORTH: Because I can imagine that exposure that even, if any of you guys do walk away, even if it's a bronze medal, that exposure it would bring. I mean, I know here in Australia, there are multiple sports I can think of over the years in both summer and winter Olympics that maybe have never been a focus. And somebody wins a bronze medal, and all of a sudden it gets that focus. And you look at, I guess, sports in Canada, like with tennis, you know, when obviously you had earlier in the decade, you know, Jeanne Bouchard doing quite well. And obviously with Bianca Andrescu winning the US Open, tennis is skyrocketing. So it's kind of these sort of exposure points where all it takes is a medal at an Olympics, and every single young kid is wanting to pick up a foil, a saber, an epaille, and you know, go towards another Olympics in the future.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, I think that's really the objective. I mean, personally, I want to medal just for myself, just for all the work I've done throughout the years. On a bigger picture, obviously, it brings a lot of attention to fancy in Canada, to different clubs. And it's good for every level, right? For the recreational fencer, all the way up to the national team members. Just if there's more exposure in the country, there's more people starting, there's going to be more funding, more money. So across the board, it's going to be a... it would be a very positive thing for Canadian fencing to bring back a medal or multiple medals.
BEN WATERWORTH: For anybody who wants to get into fencing, I mean, kind of what... When you're training, Max, is it more a cardio-based sport? Is it more of a weight? What is your training regime like to keep you fencing ready ahead of an Olympic Games?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So again, it depends on the weapons, just because there are subtle differences, but let's stick to foil. So foil fencing is a very interval-based sport, I would say. So the points would last anywhere between one second. It could be all the way to 20, 25 seconds in the longest hits, longest exchanges. So it's very explosive, but at the same time, you have to have a good aerobic system just to be able to maintain that intensity throughout the bout and also throughout the day because you have multiple bouts on the same day. So yeah, it's an endurance, but also very explosive. So it's a good mix. I would say it's very similar probably to the energy demands of the badminton or tennis, just because tennis has a lot of, you have a lot of sprinting, but also a couple of seconds or minutes to recover between hits. So that's kind of what it would look like on an energetic point of view.
BEN WATERWORTH: Do you have like a training regime between now and Tokyo? Obviously, you're leaving in a couple of days, but is it sort of a case of now the coaches are saying, all right, you need to focus on this, or is it something that kind of, it's just your standard training regime that you would constantly be doing during a regular fencing season?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: On the months, a couple like the last month or last three months, I would say, we had a very high volume of fencing. So we would fence very long. We had very long training sessions with a lot of footwork, a lot of bouts. And now coming up to the games, we decreased the volume, really focused on the quality of the training. We're very close to the event, so we're not going to make huge leaps and bounds between now and the couple weeks leading up to the games. So it's just to maintain our form, to stay sharp. As you said, we're leaving now. We're Tuesday. We're leaving on Saturday, so the 10th. We're going to Japan a couple days earlier. We have a 10-day training camp before going to the athletes' village. So I think it's just going to be the last push just to sharpen the skills and to be ready physically, but also mentally for our events.
BEN WATERWORTH: And I can imagine that at this period, a couple of weeks from the games, everything you're mentioning there, it's standard. You've done an Olympics before, so you've kind of been through this. But the difference with this one is you have to wait an extra year to do this, obviously. It's kind of, should have been doing this 12 months ago. I mean, how did that hamper much sort of in the lead up to the games? I mean, did it give you more opportunity to do more of this training, to feel that you're better and more prepared? I mean, kind of how was that delay for you?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So it was interesting. So the first aspect of that was, so obviously in March 2020, that's when everything kind of shut down. Everything was put on hold. We didn't know what was going to happen with the Olympics. And before the Olympics were officially postponed, Canada was like the first, at least the first big country to announce that they were not going to send athletes to the Olympics. And that was before the Olympics were actually postponed. So obviously I was not pleased with that decision just because it meant that if the Olympics were not postponed, we wouldn't be going, right? Thankfully, the Olympics were postponed, so we were not going to miss the Olympics. And then, so fast forward, we had the extra year. I know for some athletes it was very difficult just to have the extra year of uncertainty. I think especially for some of the older athletes that had plans to retire right after the Olympics and go back to school, start a career, start a family, I think that was very difficult for them. For me, I tried to... I'm not 18 anymore. I'm not very young, but I'm not old either in the sport of fencing. So the extra year wasn't going to... It wasn't an extra year of wearing care on my body. Some athletes are mid-30s. Maybe the extra year can make a difference. For me, it wouldn't make a difference on the physical side of it. And I really tried to see it as a year, an extra year of training, another year to get better. I've seen a steady progression across the last couple of years in my level of fencing, so the extra year will only make me a better fencer.
BEN WATERWORTH: And I know, again, we're two weeks away from Tokyo. You're going to come back as a gold medallist from this, Max, of course, and I realise I'm looking way ahead into the future. But is this something that you go into as soon as this is over, cool, eyes to Paris in 2024? Is it something you make your mind up afterwards? I mean, kind of, you know, what's that mindset about this potentially being a second of multiple more Olympics, or this could be your last Olympics?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, I think it's a bit different than Rio. In Rio, I knew there was no question that I was going to continue fencing after Rio. Now I'm in Tokyo, I'm a bit older. I would love to go all the way to Paris in 2024. I think I'm still 99% sure I'm going to go to Paris in 2024. I mean, there's always that little... I'm a bit older. I mean, there are different things that can happen in life. So it's a bit different perspective, I would say, than in Rio. But right now, I'm really focusing, trying to stay really focused on Tokyo. And then whatever happens, happens. But obviously, I would love to go all the way to 2024.
BEN WATERWORTH: Do you... Obviously, it's a different game. Obviously, with COVID, you know, spectators, foreign spectators, things like that, aren't really allowed. But are you allowed to bring family with you? Does Team Canada allow this, or is this kind of restricted? I mean, do you... Will you have any of your family or friends able to come and watch you live?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Initially, my parents, my brother, my girlfriend were supposed to come to Tokyo. Unfortunately, now they're not allowed to. I think nobody... They're no family, friends, or anybody really can go to Tokyo other than the athletes and the coaches and personnel. I saw recently, I think, they just announced that the female athletes that had a young child could bring their young child, so that's awesome. But for me, no, unfortunately, no friends, family or girlfriend that can come to Tokyo.
BEN WATERWORTH: So that, then I can imagine, he's working out the time differences. So, I mean, have you already worked out when your bout will be and kind of what time, like, I mean, what will the time difference be between Tokyo and Montreal, essentially, so they can get up and watch you?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, so we don't have the time exactly, but it's always in the morning. So it's going to be around probably like 9 or 10 a.m. in Tokyo time. So it's going to be here in Montreal, it's going to be like 12 or 13 hours prior.
BEN WATERWORTH: So it's going to be about 6, 7 p.m. That's prime time. That's good viewing.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah. No, I think it's going to be more later than that, actually. It's going to be around like maybe like 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. Anyway, it's going to be in the night. Yeah, it's doable. I mean, if I hopefully I win a couple of bouts, and then it's going to be around like 2 or 3 in the morning.
BEN WATERWORTH: But I mean, it might be worth staying up to see you win. Maybe it depends on how much I love you, right? Like exactly.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah. It depends on how much they want to see me fence or not, but I'm sure they're going to stay up really late and call them sick the next day at work.
BEN WATERWORTH: Absolutely. It should be a national holiday in Canada the next day, come home with that medal. Come on. I want to see it. Actually, we're going to close this out with some fun questions, but I feel like I can show this. I can tell you right now, Max, if you do not win a medal, you will. You will win a medal. I have a gold already from Tokyo, which I'm happy to just ship it to you, and you can just claim you're an Olympic medallist anyway. So, you know, the listeners can't see this right now, but I've got a nice little prop here. By all means, if you need one, we can hook you up. Hopefully, I won't need it. Hopefully, I won't need it.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I'll get the real one.
BEN WATERWORTH: No, you'll get the real one. I have to buy them. That's the difference between us here, Max. That works. Now, we like to close off our interviews, and this might be something that you either did in Rio or maybe you've already done for the website ahead of the Games. I don't know if the Canadian Olympic Committee are doing this again. They do a little segment on their website called My Name Is, and you kind of get to fill in a questionnaire. Now, is this something that you did for Rio, or maybe you've already done, or that you're not sort of aware of this? Because I don't know if every athlete gets given one of these and they just choose the best ones online, or they only choose a select few athletes to fill these in?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I'm not quite sure what you're talking about, so I guess I haven't done it.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, this is the fun part. And I've actually pulled up here from Rio one of your teammates. Now, I'm probably going to butcher his name. Joseph Polisfakis? Is that how you say his name?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, Polisfakis, yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Polisfakis. So he's filled this in. So basically it's like a little sheet of paper that you fill in to some random questions about yourself. Just kind of get to know you a little bit better. So they put this on the website. And I'm hoping they're doing this again for Tokyo. So you might get given one of these in a week, and you're like, oh, I know what this is. I got to ask this whole podcast. So the first question that it asks here is, what is your favourite Olympic moment? And you're allowed to say your own, of course. But I mean, if you've got one outside of you competing in the Olympics, just a favourite Olympic moment in general.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Favourite Olympic moment? I think the 2008 men's foil final. I think those were the first Olympics that I really I followed and I watched and I knew of the sponsors. And it was the first time I was watching a men's foil Olympic final. And I was amazed. So that would be my Olympic moment.
BEN WATERWORTH: Great. I'll give you Joseph's answer here. So he said the 100 metre final in 2008 with the same bolt winning that. So that was his one there. If you could choose any Olympic host city, where would it be?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: That's a good one. Any Olympic host city. I have to go with Montreal. Just having the Olympics at home must be awesome.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's a training facility. Do you guys have it based out in the Olympic Park from 76? I've been to Montreal and I've seen this great facility, and there's obviously still a lot of sports that kind of house there. So is that where you do train?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, that's where the National Training Centre is since 2013 or 2014, somewhere on there. That's where we were based out of.
BEN WATERWORTH: Great. Yeah, it's amazing. I remember the first time I went to Montreal, I've got to go out and see where they had the Olympics. And it was, yeah, it's just an incredible area. Joseph said Toronto. So, you know, sticking with the home city. In your spare time, what do you most like to do?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I've started road cycling a couple of years ago.
BEN WATERWORTH: I did notice on your social media a bit of Tour de France stuff recently. So I was kind of thinking that. And also the Habs as well, how are you following the Stanley Cup? I'm sure everyone in Montreal right now is following them, aren't they?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah. Well, the funny thing is I'm actually a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, wow.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I was. Yeah. I took a lot of heat when the Montreal Canadians beat them in the first round. I think all my friends were very happy.
BEN WATERWORTH: I'm glad Colin's not hosting this episode with me because he's a Leafs fan too. I'm a Flames fan, so we didn't even make the playoffs, so I can't even comment. Does that mean you're cheering for the Habs to lose?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I'm indifferent now. I'm indifferent. I don't really. I mean, it'd be fun for the city if the Canadians win. They won last night, so they're down 3-1 now. It's going to be tough, but I'd be happy if they win.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah. Look, I hate Tampa. So honestly, I would be happy if they won too. Joseph said that he likes to watch UFC. So that was his answer. There's a section here to draw a picture of yourself. If you really want to do some extra work on this, you can send one to him, but you don't have to do that. What is the weirdest instruction a coach has ever given you?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Oh, that's a tough one. The weirdest instruction a coach has given you. So my long-time coach, I was talking about Henry, he would often say, just go forward and hit the opponent. So obviously, it's very basic. Every time he would say that to me, I'd just be like, yeah, obviously, I mean, that's the goal. I think that would be the funniest instruction I would say.
BEN WATERWORTH: I'd be a bit worried if you turn around and go, oh, so that's what I'm doing wrong. Oh, there we go. Joseph says, slice him in half was a instruction he got given. So a bit more aggressive there, I feel. Slice him in half.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, a bit more aggressive, yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Actually, just to the topic of slicing in half, is a very random question for you. I don't know how into the James Bond films you are, but I don't know if you would call back to 2002's Die Another Day with a bit of a fencing scene in that movie if you know what I'm talking about at all.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yes, I do know. I've seen the movie maybe once or twice, but yes, I do know what senior doctor-
BEN WATERWORTH: Didn't it influence you at all in, like you know, you would have been anything about 10 when that came out. That wasn't like, oh yeah, James Bond's fencing. This is even better now.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: No, I always actually always find it kind of cringy when I see fencing in movies or in shows, just because it's obviously, it's not the real thing. It's technically very, very badly done usually, but I mean, people that aren't fensers probably can't see the difference, so that's okay.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, I mean, I believe watching Dine Other Day that Madonna was a fencer. So again, I don't know how realistic that is. I don't know if Madonna just shows up, you know, to a training Tuesday. There she is having a fence.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: That'd be pretty interesting, yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, I could imagine. What is your favourite workout?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I have to go back to road cycling. I think that'd be a mix of being outside and going fast. So I think that'd be my favourite workout.
BEN WATERWORTH: So do you scout then like, I mean, obviously, you know, it depends on, I guess, competitions and everything, but if you've got the time, do you go, okay, well, the road race is on this day, or I can go to the velodrome. Like, do you have those opportunities where you can go and see some cycling sort of outside of your competition in Tokyo?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I'd love to. I'd love to go see the road cycling event, both the men and the women's road cycling event. It's not quite clear if the athletes were allowed to go see other events, but either way, I'm either gonna go there in person or watch it on the TV from the village.
BEN WATERWORTH: Absolutely. So I guess it's some of the stuff still up in the air, because isn't it a case that a lot of it that once you've done your competition, you kind of have to go, like they don't want a lot of people hanging around. I mean, is that stuff that's still up in the air before you go, or do you know sort of your schedule and when you can and can't go places and stuff like that?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So the rules are, we're allowed to be to, the athletes can arrive at the village a maximum of five days before their event. And I think they have to leave at a maximum of 48 hours after their last event. For example, one of the Canadian, the men's sabre fencer who qualified his competitions on 23rd. So he's arriving at the village with us on the 21st. And then he has his event on the 23rd, maybe 24th. But I think 23rd. And then on the 24th, he's going back to Canada. So he'll be back in Canada before I even start my first event.
BEN WATERWORTH: That's great. So there's no dispensation of, I want to hang around and go to the closing ceremony. It's stiff shit, mate. You got to go home.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, so when you're done, you go home.
BEN WATERWORTH: So does that then mean that based on that, so I'm just looking at the fencing schedule. So no fences will be in the closing ceremony. It all finishes multiple days. So you don't get a closing ceremony no matter what.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: No, no, I think the men for the team event, the last fencing event, and we are coming first, so on the second, we're on the plane coming home.
BEN WATERWORTH: Wow, wow. Did you do the closing in Rio? Did you at least do the closing ceremony?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: No, I didn't do it in Rio because we were at the beginning of the fencing event. As I said, it was like two days after the opening ceremony, and I stayed after my Zemmican nine, I think nine days just to live the whole experience, but I didn't stay all the way until the end of the closing ceremony.
BEN WATERWORTH: So you at least got to experience, you had that sort of little experience. Did you just eat McDonald's for those nine days and you're not training anymore? You just get all the free maccas basically in the village?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah, actually, I never went to the McDonald's in Rio, just because the line up was always crazy. So it was always like multiple hours to wait for a Big Mac. So I would just go to the regular cafeteria. If it's doable in Tokyo, I might have a go to the free McDonald's.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, speaking of Big Macs and food in general, what is your favourite sandwich?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Favourite sandwich? A good grilled cheese sandwich, I would say.
BEN WATERWORTH: That's a good choice. That's a very good choice. Joseph's book, Grilled Chicken, and his favourite workout was sled push, by the way. There's a picture. Draw a Canadian animal again. Do your homework later if you want. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: To slow down time.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yes.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: I think that would be very, very good for fencing. If you could slow down time, it would be a very good, crazy good advantage.
BEN WATERWORTH: I think so, yeah. It was kind of like in Spider-Man, how he's got that sense, and sort of everything kind of slows down for him almost. So you'd kind of have that sense, and yeah, hey, that works. Joseph wants to predict the future. So you can use them together. Yeah, that works. What is the best candy? Your favourite candy?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Favourite candy? I really like chocolate. So let's go with a chocolate bar, maybe like a Coffee Crisp.
BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, yep. Yep. I had plenty of those when I was in Canada. They're quite nice.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Good choice. Good choice. Joseph said anything sour, by the way. I like how they're so different here. Like it's kind of like a standard fence's answer. This is this is good. You've already you kind of already answered this as a kid, your favourite sports team. And I'm guessing it was the Leafs or still is the Leafs, of course.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So yeah, it still is. It was and still is the Leafs.
BEN WATERWORTH: Now, why is that? Like if you grew up in Montreal and you end up going for Toronto, I mean, how does that happen?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So yeah, a lot of people think it's just to spite people, but that's not the case. The reason why I like the Leafs is just because I started watching hockey with my cousins. They were a bit older, so I thought they were so cool. I wanted to do everything like them, and they are from Ontario, so they were cheering. They were Leafs fans. So that's how I started watching hockey with them. They were cheering for the Leafs, so I started cheering for the Leafs as well.
BEN WATERWORTH: Perfect excuse. Absolutely. That works very well. Joseph, Chicago Bulls. So yeah, that's standard answer for, I guess, people of a certain era, really. Also, this is a similar era, really. Joseph's answer was this one. But what is your favourite sports movie?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Favourite sports movie? I would go with, can I go with the documentary?
BEN WATERWORTH: Of course you can. Absolutely.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: The Icarus documentary is really very interesting.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yep.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: It was, I mean, we don't have to go into it, really. Just admit it was very interesting.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yes. No, no, yes, I know exactly what you mean. But documentaries always count. One of my favourite sports movies, a documentary on Formula One driver Aiden Senna, simply called Senna. Great movie, if anyone hasn't seen it. Joseph says The Mighty Ducks. So he's very much on the 90s answers, really, it seems. Draw an Olympic medal, we won't do that. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: It'd have to be Montreal. I've travelled to so many different places and a lot of different countries are very fun to experience, to travel, to have a vacation. But I've never been to a country or to a city that I would want to live in more than in Montreal.
BEN WATERWORTH: Nice, nice answer. I tell you, and this isn't just me sucking up to the guests today, when I lived in Canada, the one place I wanted to move to was Montreal. I've been there, I think, more than any other, outside of Vancouver and Victoria, outside of any city has been Montreal. And I'm a Formula One fan, so living there for the Grand Prix would also be perfect. Yeah, that's true. I can imagine, though, when you go to places in Europe and you're competing, when you're going to places like Italy and France, these big fencing countries, crowds there must be incredible, versus, say, if you're competing at a country, maybe that doesn't have that. What's a stadium like for fencing in France or Italy?
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: So the only competition, really, where there's a crowd, a big crowd, that cheers people on, is in Paris. So we always have the one big World Cup in Paris called the CIP. So in French, it's the Challenge International de Paris. And it's always in January, and that's always the... Even though it's a World Cup, like all the other ones throughout the year, that's the one World Cup where all the athletes, they love going there. That's the most prestigious one, the one you want to win, the one where there's always a bunch of fans, a bunch of kids going there to watch fencing and to cheer. So I think even if... There are more spectators there than even at a World Championships. Obviously, Olympic Games, maybe in Tokyo, they won't, but let's say in Rio, there were more spectators than the Paris World Cup. But in a regular year, the Paris World Cup, that's the big one where all the fans are there cheering. It's incredible energy, and it just... It must be incredible to have that every time you go out. Let's say hockey players in the NHL in Montreal, every time they step onto the ice, they have the fans cheering everything. So I think that's the... If it could be like in Paris at every other World Cup, it would be awesome.
BEN WATERWORTH: Even more reason to go on for three more years for Paris 2024, I can't imagine. I mean, I'm assuming they would use the same venue, maybe, I guess. I mean, you would have that kind of energy, but in Olympic Games instead.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: It would be a very... I think it would be a very nice Olympics in 2024.
BEN WATERWORTH: The last question to close it out, Max. When you were little, what did you always think? That's a very open-ended question, but I like it. It's deep and meaningful.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: What did I always think?
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah. So I'll give you an example. Joseph says I would never grow up. That's what he said.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: All I was thinking about was sports, I think. I had a basketball net outside. I had a hockey net outside. I would see it was fencing. I had swimming lessons. So I think anytime I wasn't in school, I was just thinking of sports and watching sports on TV or playing outside, doing different sports. So I think always thinking about sports.
BEN WATERWORTH: Nothing wrong with that. I've been doing that my entire life too, Max. So it's kind of there. Max, it's really been a huge pleasure to chat with you today, particularly given we are weeks away from you competing at an Olympic Games and days away from you getting on a plane in Tokyo. Obviously, we're going to wish you the best of luck. We're not going to say if you win a medal, when you win a medal. You're going to do it proud. It's going to be a glory gold games for Canada in fencing. It's going to break so many records, but best of luck for Tokyo, and we'll get you back on in the future and you can talk to us about winning double gold in both the team and the individual foil.
MAXIMILIEN VAN HAASTER: Yes, that would be awesome. Anyway, it was a pleasure being here. It was very fun. Thank you very much.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's been a pleasure to speak to Max, and obviously so close to An Olympic Games, weeks away, to allow us his time to chat to us. And obviously, we thank him for his time, and we also want to take the opportunity to thank the great folks over at Fencing Canada too, for allowing us access to their athletes so close to An Olympic Games. And on that note, we may have some more in the lead up too, so stay tuned to our social media, because we are two weeks, two and a bit weeks away from the Tokyo Olympics. Can you believe it? I joked at the very beginning of this episode about our 100th episode that we did put up for you last week. If you haven't listened to it, it's a great little refresher of our last 49 or so episodes between episode 50 and 100. Of course, we had a little best of clip show back on episode 50 as well, but if you want a bit of a refresher of how we cover the Pyeongchang Olympics and some of the great big name guests we've had on between that and our 100th episode, it's a great little time there for that. But right now, though, focused after you've listened to that, after you've listened to this interview, as I said, we've got plenty of more stuff to come in the lead up to the Tokyo Games. Few more interviews lined up for you, so stay tuned for that. And we will have a massive preview edition of the Tokyo Olympics. We did that back, our very first ever episode, way back in 2016, of course, was a bit of a preview episode ahead of the Rio Olympics. We did the same for Pyeongchang as well. But this will be our most in-depth preview episode, I feel, that we will do. We will talk about the hopes of both Canada and Australia going into the Olympics, our real medal prospects, take a look at some of the things to look forward to, and do it in our own little fun style that I know you do enjoy here on Off The Podium. Jarrod and Colin will join me again for that, and we will have a lot of fun. So look out for that. A few days out from Tokyo Games, we will aim to put that up in plenty of time for you to listen to it and digest it ahead of the opening ceremony. And before the opening ceremony episode as well, if all things go how they should be going, a certain little vote will be happening on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics. It will see Australia become a three-time hosting country of the Olympic Games, as it is all but certain that Brisbane will be awarded the 2032 Olympics, barring something major happening, of course, but that vote is set to go ahead before the opening ceremony, a night before. So if that does happen, at least Jarrod and myself, I'm sure we can drag Colin out of bed to talk about another country getting the Olympics, but we'll have a bit of a short sort of reaction episode about what this means to Australia, to Brisbane, and everything else in between, because obviously, fresh off 12 months ago, celebrating 20 years of Sydney 2000, this will be a pretty big deal for Australia to get the nod for the third time for a Summer Olympics. And also creating history. It will be the first time that Olympics has been awarded so far away from the year itself, 11 years away from hosting an Olympic Games. So just stay tuned for that. Should it happen? I probably jinxed it. I probably completely jinxed it, and all of a sudden, Jakarta will end up getting the Olympics or something like that, surprisingly. So if I have jinxed it, sorry, Brisbane, I really do apologize. I was looking forward to having those Olympics. But in the meantime, like us on Facebook. We're also on Twitter as well. We're aiming to get an Instagram page up and running before the Olympics themselves. So stay tuned for that. We'll share that on our social media. And the best place to listen to these episodes, of course, is to subscribe to the podcast. We're on all good platforms, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, you name it, we are on there. Hit the subscribe button and you won't miss a single one of these episodes and go through the archives. Dig up, I really can't speak towards the end of this episode, apparently dig up all our old interviews and episodes and kill some time in the couple of weeks before we get to the Tokyo Games. Maybe go back and find our old Rio episodes to really get you in the mood for the Olympic Games. But we are so excited to bring you what we are bringing you and just get excited because Tokyo is just around the corner. Big thanks again to Max for his time today and again to Fencing Canada for arranging that interview. My name is Ben, this has been Off The Podium and we'll speak to you next time. Good night.
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