For a long time, the Canadian short track team had clear headliners. We only have to think of Marianne St-Gelais and Charles Hamelin. In this second year of the Olympic cycle, the dynamic within the group “is different, but just as interesting” – words of coach Sébastien Cros.
The national team met with the media on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the first two World Cups of the season, which will take place in Montreal over the next two weekends. This will be followed by the Four Continents Championship from November 3 to 5 in Laval. Thirty-three countries and nearly two hundred athletes will compete for honors.
First, you should know that there is a major absence among the women for the first half of the season: Kim Boutin, on an internship as part of her studies in special education, will miss the first four World Cups.
Boutin is, by far, the most famous face of the team. Among the men, Steven Dubois blossomed during the Beijing Olympic Games, when he collected three medals, one of each color. But when we ask Sébastien Cros to tell us about his headliners, the answer is long. Because he lists each of his athletes who will take part in the next competitions one by one.
Among the women, there is obviously the 23-year-old New Brunswicker Courtney Sarault, Canadian champion, who “takes up a lot of space with her results,” he notes. The coach also tells us about the “emergence” of 25-year-old Rikki Doak, who scored his first individual podium last year in the 500 meters. Claudia Gagnon and Danaé Blais also did well, while Florence Brunelle is back after a year of break.
“I expect it to come out a little more this year and that it will reach the podiums,” says Cros.
On the men’s side, there are Dubois, Pascal Dion and Jordan Pierre-Gilles, but also William Dandjinou, the most recent Canadian champion. The 22-year-old from Sherbrooke has had “really consistent” national selections over every distance. “Now he has to repeat that at the international level, but clearly he has the level to also be in the finals and the podiums,” says Cros.
Steven Dubois revealed himself to the world by winning three medals at his first Olympic Games, including two in individual distances. A few months later, Charles Hamelin retired. Have these two facts changed his role on the men’s team? Not according to him.
“I don’t think it’s changed much,” replies the 26-year-old skater. We saw it a lot at the Games: we are a team that is really close. It was the same thing when Charles was there. We are all family. We all consider ourselves equal. When we have a question, whether technical or tactical, we will go see our teammates. »
If he does not consider himself the leader in terms of personality, he is in his results. As the coach says, Dubois’ ability to “perform at all distances” gives him an “advantage that not all athletes have.”
“He has a little more chance of ending up on the podium. He’s the leader at that level,” says Cros. Otherwise, each skater on the team “finds their place and brings something.” “It’s a different dynamic, but just as interesting. »
At the start of the season last year, Steven Dubois admitted to La Presse that he somewhat lacked confidence.
“I’m going to arrive in any round, whether it’s the first or the last, and I’m still going to be afraid that the others will beat me,” he said. It seems like I never know my true strength. »
A year later, the athlete changed his perspective. The problem, he deduced, is not so much confidence as preparation. His biggest challenge is performing in several consecutive races.
“Sometimes, when my legs hurt, the second race after, I’ll have a hard time getting the motivation, the little stress, the adrenaline that makes me say: OK, I’m still going to hurt myself again. »
“I have the physical, technical and tactical qualities to be forward, race and win, but I think I have trouble having the motivation. »
An analysis supported by Cros, who recalls that “the wheel is turning in the right direction”, that is to say that Dubois is further refining his skills. “At the end of the day, he’s going to be more consistent in terms of his performance,” according to the coach.
In terms of expectations for the coming season, Dubois got wet by delivering a precise answer: “I would like to have a small ratio of 50% this year, so [getting on the podium] at least one race out of two . It wouldn’t be worse. »
