GSP fights bullying, wonders if he can still do 50 chins ups like at 16
Georges St-Pierre, who has started the Fondation Georges St-Pierre to combat bullying, spoke on Thursday to a packed crowd of…
Georges St-Pierre, who has started the Fondation Georges St-Pierre to combat bullying, spoke on Thursday to a packed crowd of 500 at his old high school about the importance of teaching bullies how hurtful their actions can be.
For the first time in years, Georges St-Pierre returned to his former high school south of Montreal, where the modest workout room was officially designated: Salle Georges St-Pierre.
Wearing a suit, he wanted to see if he could still pull off 50 chin ups, like he did as a 16-year-old at Pierre-Bedard school. St-Pierre’s record still stands in the 16-and-over category — in fact, it remains posted on the weight room’s wall.
The thing is, because I’m dressed like this I can’t show you, otherwise I would, St-Pierre, 31, said Thursday.
I don’t even know if I can do this today, you know if I’m able to do 50 chin ups… I’m a better fighter now, but before maybe I was a better chin-up guy.
St-Pierre spoke to a gymnasium packed with some 500 students on how he overcame doubts about himself, fears about his menacing opponents and the challenges of being bullied as a kid.
People see how I am now, but I wasn’t always like this, he told the audience.
While I was growing up, I wasn’t very popular, I didn’t have lots of friends, especially in elementary school.
Older kids pushed him around and his grades suffered as a result.
Even though we have obstacles when we’re young… it doesn’t mean our life is sinking, said St-Pierre.
You’ll keep the same old friends, who are your true friends, but the people… who make fun of you will disappear because they won’t be part of your life.
One of St-Pierre’s best friends from his high-school days came to the school to see his buddy honoured.
St-Pierre gave a big hug to Guy Lahaie, a pal he still makes time for, despite a busy training schedule.
He’s the same guy as before, except that he has an international career, said Lahaie, who had St-Pierre as his best man for his 2003 wedding.
He’s still the same little guy from the neighbourhood.
Lahaie, who lives in St-Remi, recalled how he and St-Pierre were both sports nuts during their high-school days. They would play ice hockey, street hockey and spent their school lunch breaks on a nearby basketball court.
The teens also loved professional wrestling, he said. But eventually their attention shifted to the fledgling UFC and its legendary Brazilian champion, Royce Gracie.
We were crazy about it, said Lahaie, adding that St-Pierre had already begun karate training at that time.
I knew he had potential.
UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre fights UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit at UFC 154 on November 17 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, live on PPV.