Ariane Fortin

Biography

Ariane Fortin achieved a career highlight at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where she won the silver medal, her only loss coming to 2012 World Champion Savannah Marshall in a split decision. A two-time world champion, Fortin missed out on competing at the 2012 Olympic Games when she was beaten by Mary Spencer for the lone Canadian 75kg berth. The showdown between the friends-turned-rivals was documented in the film Last Woman Standing. Determined more than ever to qualify for the Olympic Games, Fortin returned to the gym and fought her way back onto the national team, defeating Spencer at the 2013 Canadian championships and that year’s final national team selection tournament. In 2014 she was back at the world championships where she won the bronze medal, her only loss coming in the semifinal to reigning Olympic champion Claressa Shields, who she says is the only boxer in the world with a speed advantage over her. At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Fortin added another medal to her collection, taking home bronze after defeating Venezuela’s Carmona Paez Francelis in the quarterfinals. She secured her ticket to Rio with a runner-up finish to Shields at the American Continental Qualifier in March 2016. In her Olympic debut, Fortin was eliminated in the first round. Fortin was Boxing Canada’s Female Boxer of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Roger Fortin and Evelyne Brochu… Younger sister Dominique… Getting into the Sport: Started boxing at age 16… Was inspired to start after watching the movie Girlfight (La pugiliste)… Followed two friends to the club and three months later had her first fight… It was the first individual sport she tried, liking that it tests strength of character… Outside Interests: Completed an integrated Bachelor degree in French language and professional writing… Studying via distance at Téluq (Université du Québec)…  Odds and Ends: Loves sushi… Role models are Lucian Bute, Arian Diaconnu and Jojo Dan who she trained with daily and learned work ethic from… If nervous before a fight will watch funny videos on YouTube… Favourite motto: “Rise Above!”… Believes that obstacles are there because she has the tools to overcome them…