Five-medal day on short track
As Charles Hamelin skated to the start line Sunday, the announcer introduced him — in a booming, drawn-out voice — as “The Canadian Stallion.” The three-time Olympic champion quickly showed why.
Hamelin led wire-to-wire to win gold in the men’s 500 metres at the ISU short-track speed skating World Cup in Toronto. He added a second victory as part of the men’s 5,000metre relay.
“That (nickname) started last week in Montreal,” a grinning Hamelin said. “I like it, and I think it’s a good description of me.”
His victories highlighted a fivemedal performance by Canada on the event’s final day.
Charle Cournoyer of Boucherville, Que., also won two gold, winning the men’s 1,000 then teaming up with Hamelin, Patrick Duffy of Oakville, Ont., Samuel Girard of Ferland-etBoilleau, Que., and Sasha Fathoullin to win the relay.
Marianne St-Gelais of Saint-Felicien, Que., was second in the women’s 500, while Valerie Maltais was third in the women’s 1,000.
Hamelin’s victory in the 500 came a day after he was disqualified in another 500. And while, with 14 years on the World Cup circuit, it wasn’t his first time being DQ’ed, the SainteJulie, Que., native said it was an added bit of motivation.
“When I have a bad result or mis- takes or DQ, I always get up the day after with a little bit more focus, and more anger to win,” Hamelin said.
In the relay, Hamelin took a final push from Cournoyer to skate the race’s last two laps, and edged the second-placed South Korean skater by two-hundredths of a second.