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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Gabe at half-century mark, still as dance-happy as ever

By: Gabrielle Giroday and Geoff Kirbyson

Posted: 01/30/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Dancing Gabe Langlois loves to entertain fans, cheer on teams at city's pro and amateur sports events. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store

HOW do you sum up a half-century of dancing, laughing and just being so darn enthusiastic? If you're Dancing Gabe Langlois, the answer is simple: "That was the best 50 years of my life."

Gabe is officially Winnifamous. Tuesday morning, he kicked off his day by appearing on Breakfast Television on Citytv.

His recipe for his fantastic life and looking so young for his fifth decade?

Well, there's using an elliptical fitness cross-trainer. "I work out almost every day," he said.

Then there's the dancing, of course, at Jets or Goldeyes or Blue Bombers games. At Jets games, he dances during breaks in the play, then hustles back to the tunnel entrance and over to the next section to await another chance to dance.

"I got the energy and I entertain people," he said.

Plus, there's the importance of a healthy diet.

Gabe doesn't believe in drinking more than one or two beers.

Not one to embrace no-carb diets, his top pick is pasta -- veggie alfredo with long noodles, corn, chicken and peas.

He makes sure to let his almost 82-year-old mother know what she means to him.

"I thank her all the time," he said.

Dancing Gabe's birthday meant his favourite things: a workout at his neighbourhood YMCA, cake and bowling. It also meant family time, such as with his 46-year-old sister, Claudette Langlois.

"He's just so enthusiastic," his sister said.

Gabe owns 14 team jerseys, but his favourite is the Jets 2.0.

The man who gives the most high-fives, poses for the most pictures at Winnipeg Jets games and is arguably the most recognizable person inside the MTS Centre is not on the payroll at True North Sports & Entertainment.

Dancing Gabe has been a fixture at Winnipeg sporting events, professional and amateur, for more than two decades. Any time music is blared over the PA system, it's not difficult to find him somewhere in the arena or stadium busting some dance moves, pumping up the crowd and generally serving as the unofficial No. 1 fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Winnipeg Goldeyes.

He has missed only a handful of games since the early '90s

Langlois, who has a condition his mother considers to be autism, was first spotted dancing at a sporting event by Mike O'Hearn, an executive with the old Winnipeg Jets in the early '90s. He gave Langlois a new Jets jersey and a legend was born.

"Then, boom, I was on national television, TSN," Dancing Gabe remembered.

gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

Game Day with Dancing Gabe: March 13, 2012

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 30, 2013 B2

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