Water polo lost a true servant of the game with the death of Canadian Claude Lavoie, whose commitment to the women's game was legendary.
He was one of the most significant Canadian water polo personalities in the history of the sport, having assumed many roles over a career spanning five decades. As a coach of the Quebec City, Sainte-Foy-Sillery-Cap-Rouge borough, women's programme, he built his team into one of the world's best during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
However, it was as a fierce advocate for women's water polo that Claude's most important contribution was felt.
Through the efforts of Claude and a handful of others around the globe, women’s water polo was officially recognised at the 1986 World Aquatic Championships and became an official Olympic sport in 2000 in Sydney.
Claude received the FINA silver pin in 1998 for those accomplishments. The women’s team, led by Claude, took part at the first FINA World Cup in 1979, when it finished fourth.
Claude died after a long illness.