Michel Roy, Owner of Go Maniac, Wins Gold After Two Difficult Years
In April 2025, Michel Roy, owner and ambassador of Go Maniac, attracted attention after achieving strong results in the United States and earning two Golden Tickets to the U.S. National Pickleball Championships.
Ultimately, he was never able to attend those championships. What followed was far more complicated than expected.
Michel was diagnosed with aggressive Gleason 9 prostate cancer and received treatment at the Centre intégré de cancérologie de Québec. During 2025, he also dealt with episodes of hematuria, underwent three procedures under anesthesia, had gallbladder surgery in May, inguinal hernia surgery in August and intestinal surgery in December.
Sixty Hyperbaric Treatments in 2026
At the beginning of 2026, Michel completed 60 hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments at Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis in an effort to reduce some of the side effects caused by his previous treatments.
The hyperbaric treatments also caused temporary changes to his vision, requiring him to wear temporary glasses. He continues to manage some of these side effects today.
Despite everything, he never completely stopped moving, practising and playing pickleball.
A Return to Competition Crowned With Gold
After returning to competition, Michel recently won the gold medal in the 4.0 singles division for players aged 50 and over at the 2026 Skechers Open in Longueuil.
At 63 years old, he won the final in two closely contested games, 12-10 and 11-8. Trailing 10-8 in the first game and only one point away from losing it, Michel won four consecutive points to complete the comeback.
This victory represents much more than a medal. It marks his return to competition after more than two years of treatments, surgeries and complications.
The Most Important Victory Is His Health
The best news, however, did not come from the podium.
After more than two years of treatments and complications, Michel’s medical follow-ups are now reassuring, and his cancer currently shows no sign of activity. He continues to be closely monitored and still manages some lasting side effects, but he can finally share some good news.
Michel sincerely thanks all the teams who cared for him at the Centre intégré de cancérologie de Québec, as well as the hyperbaric oxygen therapy team at Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis.
An Important Message for Men Aged 50 and Over
Through his experience, Michel wants to share a simple message: men aged 50 and over should not neglect annual prostate cancer screening.
He encourages men to discuss screening openly with their doctor and request a blood test that includes their PSA level. When detected earlier, prostate cancer can often have a much better prognosis.
Prevention would certainly have been easier to live with. Still, this gold medal tastes pretty good.
