Riders’ Dupuis, Olympian Benfeito rebuilding after destructive condo fire

Saskatchewan Roughriders fullback Alexandre Dupuis and Olympic diver Meaghan Benfeito have been through a lot in their relationship — including a condo fire that destroyed almost everything they owned.

“I was in the apartment doing stuff for my agent and then the barbecue exploded and then everything just burnt,” Benfeito said.

Dupuis was at work when he got a call from Benfeito that the condo in Montreal they had been sharing for just a few years was on fire. When he first got the call, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“I thought it was maybe a candle that was on the table or whatever and then she was like, ‘No, no, the house is on fire,’ so I pressed Facetime and all I saw was a ball of fire,” Dupuis said. “She showed me where our condo was and the only thing that was there was fire.”

Dupuis and Benfeito lost everything inside the apartment, including Benfeito’s three Olympic bronze medals — one from the 2012 Olympics in London and two from Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

“My medals were in there. Fortunately, the IOC and COC were able to get me replicas so at least I have something to show and have a reminder of all my hard work,” Benfeito said.

“At that moment Meg was crying, she was panicking and she was in tears and everybody was. It was normal in that situation to react like that,” Dupuis added. “In that moment I was just trying to be as strong as possible and as calm as possible to make sure she is OK.

“We both lost a lot. For me, it was a bunch of memorabilia from football and a football signed from old teammates and my university jersey … For me to see the fire taking it all away, there’s really no way to describe it. It’s a feeling of emptiness and not knowing what’s going to happen.”

But while it was one of the lowest points of both of their lives, they eventually grew stronger from the experience.

“We gained so much by knowing who our true friends are and who is there when the going gets tough,” Dupuis said. “You feel like now that you’ve been through that, you can go through anything.”

Dupuis and Benfeito started dating about 2 1/2 years ago after the two connected on Instagram.

“He’s going to say that he messaged me first but I followed him first. As soon as we started talking, it was all about sports and I feel like that’s what clicked right away,” said Benfeito, a four-time Olympian.

“I think that week we started talking to each other she was going to China. For me, it was really interesting to pick her brain about what she thinks about when she’s diving, what does she think when she’s walking up the stairs,” Dupuis said.

“The conversation we had was really interesting for her as well, so we decided two weeks after to see each other and we really clicked on a lot of aspects.”

While the two are ultra-competitive, Dupuis admits it’s no contest between the two of them.

“She’s definitely the best athlete out of the both of us. There’s not a lot of people in the world who have been to four Olympics and she has won three medals. I don’t think I can beat that playing in the CFL,” Dupuis said.

Now the two are calling Regina home for the 2021 season, with Dupuis trying to help the Riders in their journey to a Grey Cup.

Dupuis actually started the season with the Edmonton Elks before getting released. He then had a short stint with the Montreal Alouettes but after suffering a hamstring injury, he was let go.

When the Riders came calling in August, he signed on the dotted line to reunite himself with Jason Maas, who was his coach in Edmonton during the 2017 and ’18 seasons.

Dupuis had to quickly learn the playbook as just days after he signed with Saskatchewan, he was thrust into game action for the first time in three years.

“It comes with a lot of challenges because I had barely got any reps that week,” Dupuis said. “The fact I had played in the league helped me a lot because there were looks or rules that I’ve been through in that system because it’s the same system I’ve played through my whole career.”

Dupuis has played in the CFL since 2014 when he was taken by the Toronto Argonauts 36th overall in the CFL draft. He played three seasons there before playing in Edmonton for two — but he hadn’t played a down since 2018.

Benfeito has already made a splash with young divers in the Queen City, helping coach with the Regina Diving Club.

“Even if they didn’t ask me, I was still going to come to the pool. I wasn’t going to go to a city where I know there’s a diving team and not show up at the pool,” Benfeito said.

“It’s fun being around them. They work hard and they have fun and I think that’s the most important part of diving. The last couple of years have been extremely hard and it was more of a job for me than having fun, but being here and watching them just enjoy what they do kind of brings me back to why I fell in love with diving.

“I’m a little sad that I have to leave and I wish my boyfriend could play again here next summer so I could come back.”

Dupuis said it meant a lot that Benfeito came to Saskatchewan to be with him during the football season.

“It’s not easy to be away from your loved one whenever you’re away for the football season, so having her here most of the time is really cool and it’s really nice and we get to experience it together,” Dupuis said. “It’s my first time in Regina as well.

“This support that the city gives (the Riders) is really fun. Just going out to eat after a game and you see all those Rider jerseys and everything, it makes you feel at home and that people want you here. I’ve really enjoyed my time here. I think it’s fun and the organization is great.”

While Regina doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of Montreal, Benfeito is a fan of that.

“I can just enjoy life and take it a day at a time and do what I have to do instead of always being on the go,” Benfeito said.

On Friday, Dupuis will try to help the Riders (7-4) beat the Edmonton Elks (2-8) and try to get closer to hosting a playoff game. It’s also a chance for Dupuis to face a former team.

“Playing the team that released you always gives you something more to be able to focus more in the week of practice,” Dupuis said. “It’s extra motivation even though I don’t need extra motivation because we’re right there fighting for a home playoff game and the next three games are going to be so important to try and get on a roll.”

While he focuses on the field, Dupuis believes the tragedy in their lives will help define them for years to come.

“I think it made us stronger as a couple and made us stronger as humans and hopefully in the next few years people can see that that fire didn’t break us. It made us stronger and made us wanting more in life than just what we had,” Dupuis said.