The whistle is more than just a signal for referees in sports. It embodies authority, fairness and discipline.
For Virginie Brackez, it serves as a bridge between two disparate worlds - the rigid confines of a prison and the exhilarating pace of Canoe Polo.
It is hard to spot Brackez without a smile. But once that whistle is blown, the smile fades as she zooms in with her eagle eyes to spot fouls, with the utmost concentration.
Brackez’s Canoe Polo journey began two decades ago as a goalkeeper when she represented France and won medals at world and European level. But her passion didn’t end on the field; it transformed as she stepped into the role of a referee.
One of the best in business, she has been officiating matches for the last 10 years and made history as the first woman to referee a men’s final at The World Games in 2017.
“Gender does not matter. We are at this level because we have the training and the expertise,” she said.
That confidence is the cornerstone of her dual career as she makes her way through a world of rules and discipline.
“I compare my job as a prison guard with refereeing because both places have strict rules. If we follow the rules, we have no problem.”
A Co-President of the French National Canoe Polo Committee since 2023, Brackez manages around 100 male prisoners during her shift. Be it Canoe Polo or the walls of a prison, only one aspect matters to her.
“Sometimes, I take the prisoners out for sports, where I am again a referee. It’s always about discipline for me. If they respect me, I respect them too.”
Her commitment and passion for the paddling reached a whole new level this year as she served as a referee for Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“France wanted referees from every discipline at the Games,” she recalls.
“The atmosphere is what I love. Discipline does not matter to me; I am always open to new experiences.”
Despite initial scepticism from her peers, Brackez’s resilience shone through.
“When I first arrived, they found it a bit difficult to accept me. But once they saw my skills, they changed their minds,” she said.
Brackez, who is a member of the European Canoe Association Canoe Polo Committee, has no intention to stop there.
“I have been an athlete, a referee, and now I’m stepping into administration,” she said, outlining her ambitions to influence the sport at a higher level.
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