Gagnon to help coach short track skaters
Canada's national short track speedskating team, which will be guided by newly installed head coach Sebastien Cros, has added five-time Olympic medallist Marc Gagnon as an assistant.
Gagnon made his Olympic debut at Lillehammer in 1994, where he won bronze in the 1,000m. He added gold in the 5,000m relay at Nagano in 1998, then capped his Olympic career at Salt Lake City in 2002 with gold in the 500m and relay, as well as bronze in the 1,500m.
The 45-year- old native of Chicoutimi, Que., moved into coaching in 2010 at the Canadian Regional Training Centre in Montreal, and has worked with several skaters who have moved on to the national team.
Cros has been involved with the national team and the Nextgen program since 2007.
“I'm looking forward to collaborating with one of the world's greatest short track coaches,” said Gagnon.
“Sebastien and I share the same ideas, and to support him in his vision of developing the key skills needed for international success motivates me enormously.
“As I have been saying since my early days as a coach, I am dedicated to giving young people the tools necessary so that they too have the chance to achieve their dreams.”
Short track speedskating debuted as an Olympic sport at Albertville in 1992.
In eight Olympics, Canada has won 33 short track medals, tied with China and second only to South Korea with 48. Canada has
never won fewer than three short track medals at any Olympics, and most recently won five at Pyeongchang in 2018.
Gagnon won 28 world championship medals and the overall title four times. He has been inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
“Marc's breadth of knowledge, experience and intrinsic feel for the sport is something that will enhance our program and benefit our athletes,” said Shawn Holman, chief sport officer for Speed Skating Canada.
“His passion for teaching and helping those around him excel ... are attributes our organization is looking for.”