Courtney Sarault had an eventful year, focusing solely on her passion for short-track speedskating and aiming for success at the Olympics. Her dedication paid off with an impressive haul of four medals – two silver and two bronze – at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February. Additionally, she clinched a Crystal Globe on the World Cup circuit as the top female speedskater of the season.
As Sarault and her Canadian counterparts gear up for the new Olympic cycle, they are preparing for the ISU Short Track World Tour. The competition, spanning seven cities, kicks off in Vancouver with over 215 athletes from 29 nations competing from Friday to Sunday. The Montreal leg is scheduled for October 30 to November 1.
Returning to the Pacific Coliseum for the first time since the 2010 Olympics holds special significance for Sarault, who found those Games influential in her early career. She views this opportunity as a chance to inspire others to pursue the sport.
Sarault, hailing from Moncton, N.B., is part of the Canadian contingent in Vancouver, where she aims to be competitive but is not fixated on winning races at this stage. Her focus is on peaking towards the end of the year at the world championships to claim an individual distance world title, a feat she has yet to achieve.
Embracing a new approach this year, Sarault is balancing competition with exploring diverse opportunities, including motivational speaking engagements and public appearances outside her usual training routine. This shift has allowed her to recharge and experience life beyond the confines of her training environment.
On the other hand, Steven Dubois, a 29-year-old from Lachenaie, Que., who secured Olympic gold and silver in Italy, is striving to improve after facing challenges at the previous Games. He is combining his training with biology studies at the University of Montreal, with aspirations of becoming an optometrist post-athletic career.
Despite contemplating retirement following a leg injury, 30-year-old Maxime Laoun from Montreal is still drawn to speedskating, emphasizing the addictive nature of the sport. While narrowly missing the podium in Italy, he remains focused on enjoying the sport and taking each step as it comes, leaving the door open for a potential pursuit of another Olympic medal.
