Q&A CHARLES HAMELIN
Q This is your fourth Olympics. What keeps you coming back?
A I think it’s always that I want more. I know what the Olympics are bringing to me and can bring to an athlete. The first three Olympics were completely different. The experience, the results, everything. I knew I wanted to try to do one more and the choice was easy. I decided in Sochi after the second fall I had. I decided to continue for four more years to have another experience and the chance to come back with some other medals.
Q How do you look back on Sochi? Obviously there was the gold medal, but I think you probably hoped to leave with more medals.
A I really took some positives from Sochi because the medal I won on the 1,500-metre was really a gold that my coach and I … we had that goal together. We wanted to bring Canada back to the top of the podium in the 1,500-metre, because back in the day people were saying Canada is only good for 500-metre, they’re sprinters, they don’t have enough endurance. I just wanted to prove that Canada is able to win medals in any event and we just did it. Since then, Canada has been better and more kids can step on the podium now. It’s something that was really big for us, for me and for my coach.
Q How much is it mental and tactical versus physical in your sport?
A I would say that the mental is the big part of my sport and I think any sport. Because if your head says no, you will probably not have the result you want. Your body will say no, but your mind, if your mind says yes and go for it, the chance that you will have your best result and get the best chance to win or step on the podium will be there.