Short-track stars ready for championship in Montreal
Girard, Hamelin, St-Gelais and Boutin scheduled to compete in Montreal
Canada’s short-track speedskaters barely have had time to come up for air since last month’s Pyeongchang Olympics — and yet, they’ll be expected to flip the switch and perform at this weekend’s world championships.
While the timing could be better, the competitors — the men’s and women’s teams almost exclusively are comprised of Quebecers — should be buoyed participating before family and friends at the Maurice Richard Arena. The threeday event begins Friday morning.
“For sure we’re on a cloud at the Olympics. Coming back here, you start to realize everything,” said Samuel Girard, who captured a gold medal in the 1,000 metres along with a bronze in the 5,000-metre relay. “The best athletes have to refocus pretty quick. I’ve switched to training mode and competition.”
Canada’s short-track team earned five medals at the Games, living up to high expectations. That included three medals alone for Sherbrooke’s Kim Boutin.
She began her odyssey with a bronze in 500 metres, then captured another bronze in 1,500 metres followed by a silver in the 1,000. She became the first Canadian female short-track skater to win two individual medals at the same Winter Games before becoming this country’s first triple medallist.
“It’s hard to come back after the Games. It takes a lot of energy,” admitted the 23-year-old, Canada’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremonies. “My plan is the same as at the Olympics. Focus on my technical ... be in sync in my race.
“I’m going to have fun and see what happens.”
If Girard and Boutin are considered the future of the sport, they ’ll be carrying the torch passed by such veterans as Marianne StGelais and Charles Hamelin.
St- Gelais, 28, has announced the world championship will be the last event of her career. Hamelin, 33, also had been expected to retire this weekend, but announced at Wednesday’s news conference he wants to continue competing, at least for another year before he’ll reassess the situation.
“For sure it’s a little bit emotional doing my last laps in Montreal. It’s something special,” said StGelais, who failed to win a medal at Pyeongchang, but was second in the last two world championships and has collected 113 medals on the international scene.
“I know it’s going to be emotional on Sunday night for sure, saying goodbye to my sport,” she added. “But you know what, I’m happy to be doing it here. No matter how I’m feeling, people will be there for me.”
While St-Gelais undoubtedly wants to complete her career with a medal, she said nothing that transpires this weekend will define her legacy — and she won’t use her retirement as an excuse. She said the timing is right for her departure. St- Gelais simply doesn’t have the will or commitment to endure another four-year cycle.
“I feel like I was just in the right spot,” she said. “Four more years ... I’d be 32 and wouldn’t be in the right target. Those girls are so strong. They’re coming after me and I don’t feel like I have the same energy I had ... the same passion.”
St- Gelais and Hamelin recently made headlines off the ice when they announced their breakup as a couple following a decade together. Hamelin admitted the turn his personal life has taken played a part in his professional decision.
“It would be difficult to say no,” he said. “But (the decision to continue) was already in my mind before. I still have the fire in my mind, body and heart.”
And, while he has five medals from four Olympics, Hamelin said his lack of individual success in South Korea hasn’t diminished his desire to continue training and competing. He was part of the 5,000-metre relay team.
“Short track is a tough sport, tough world. I was ready for those results, good and not so good. The page is turned,” he said. “The way I’m skating since I’m back, I’ve been skating the best of my whole career. It’s really promising and accelerated the process in my mind.
“I feel I still have something to bring to the team. I still have things to teach the young guys. For myself, I still have some fire in me to go again, work and fight and win more medals.”
This weekend, Canada will be represented in individual events by Boutin, St-Gelais and Jamie Macdonald on the women’s side, along with Girard, Hamelin and Pascal Dion. Kasandra Bradette, Valérie Maltais, Charle Cournoyer and François Hamelin will participate in the relay races.
British women’s world champion Elise Christie will miss the event with an injury, but Italian triple medallist Arianna Fontana will be in Montreal. The reigning men’s world champion, Seo Yi Ra of South Korea, will attempt to retain his title.
About 132 athletes representing 37 countries are scheduled to participate.