Jessica Ruel

Biography

Jessica Ruel attended her first senior national championships in 2006. At just 15 years old, she was the youngest athlete in the competition, but finished third in the 48kg category. As a junior national champion from 2008 to 2011, she won a silver medal at the 2008 Youth Commonwealth Games and competed at three editions of the IWF World Junior Championships. She earned her first senior Canadian title in 2012 at 53kg, before moving down to the 48kg category in 2013 and winning another national title. She decided to return to the 53kg category and won back-to-back national titles in 2014 and 2015. Ruel’s senior international experience includes two world championship appearances as well as the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

PERSONAL

Family: Mother Chantal Ruel… Younger sister Mélanie… Husband Richard Jasmin… Getting into the Sport: Started weightlifting in December 2003 at age 12 after her sister had taken up the sport a few months earlier… Had been in gymnastics for five years… Outside Interests: Pursuing diploma in accounting sciences at Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscaminque…

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

CWG: 2014 – 8^th (53kg)

IWF WCh: 2014 – 23^rd (53kg); 2013 – 13^th (48kg)

PAC: 2013 – 6^th (48kg)

IWF WCh (junior): 2011 – 12^th (48kg); 2009 – 9^th (48kg); 2008 – 14^th (48kg)