Speed Skating Canada – Marianne St-Gelais and Charles Hamelin each add a win to their weekend’s tally

Montreal, September 24, 2016 – Kim Boutin from Sherbrooke, QC, and Charle Cournoyer of Boucherville, QC, put a stop to a series of wins by Marianne St-Gelais and Charles Hamelin by respectively coming out on top in the 1000m race and the second 1500m event of the weekend, Saturday, on the second day of the Short Track Fall World Cup Selections taking place until Sunday at Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal.

Boutin, who had finished second in each of Friday’s two races, went ahead of the pack early in Saturday’s 1000m race to win the event ahead of St-Gelais from Saint-Félicien, QC, and Marie-Ève Drolet from Saguenay, Chicoutimi borough, QC.

“I’m pretty happy because I wanted the win”, said Boutin. “I finished one lap in nine seconds towards the middle of the race, which is pretty good! It shows that I can win and that I can challenge Marianne, something which pushes us both to be better skaters.”

The young skater from Sherbrooke, QC, who won a 1000m race at this same competition in 2014, came close to sweeping both of Saturday’s races as she was the first skater to cross the finish line in the second 1500m of the weekend. After swapping the lead back and forth with St-Gelais throughout the race, a contact towards the end of the event earned her a penalty, which pushed her back to sixth and last place in the final. The win was awarded to St-Gelais, followed by Drolet in second place and Jamie Macdonald of Fort St. James, B.C., in third place.

“I’m disappointed for sure,” said Boutin. “It was pretty tight in a passing and I showed her that I was right there. But sometimes, it’s better to let the opponent go. Marianne and I didn’t know on which side the officials’ decision would fall. But all in all, I still see it as healthy competition.”

“I’m quite happy with my day,” said Marianne St-Gelais. “Kim had some superb races. As for me, I made mistakes in both finals.”

“There are things you don’t learn when you win,” she added. “It’s a good thing when you win, but it’s just as good when you can win when the level of skating is high and when you try new things. I’m happy I lost because it proves that there’s a new generation of up-and-coming skaters, and these young skaters will be better, as I’ll be, which will lead to the Canadian team being even stronger.”

Marie-Ève Drolet, for her part, came up with her third top-3 result in four races so far this weekend.

Charle Cournoyer wins the 1500m


On the men’s side, Charle Cournoyer, who won a bronze medal in the 500m at the 2014 Olympic Games, finished ahead of Charles Hamelin and Pascal Dion from Montréal (Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles borough), QC, in the second and last 1500m event of the weekend. He therefore came up with his first win of the competition.

So far this weekend, Cournoyer took part in all A finals and finished among the top four skaters in each of his races.

“Today, I was really more confident than I was the day before and I was better able to do what I wanted to do,” said Charle Cournoyer. “Even if I did well in terms of results on Friday, it wasn’t quite as good as what I expected. But it’s getting better and better. This weekend, I’m not looking to win at all cost. I see it more as a warm up for the upcoming season. But it’s still good to see that I was able to apply my race plan and that I was able to do what I wanted. I would have been just as happy with a second place finish.”

“In the 1500m, it was a different race compared to what I usually do,” said Charles Hamelin, who also earned his third win of the weekend earlier in the 1000m event, Saturday, ahead of Cournoyer and François Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, QC. “I did well to overtake skaters at the right times. At the end, I tried to get by Charle Cournoyer, but I ended up deciding to put the brakes on and stay second instead of risking losing several spots. I’m still happy with my race. Charle came up with a very smart race and he defended his spot in front really well.”

On Sunday, the second 500m and 1000m events of the weekend are scheduled.

All participants will skate twice in each of the scheduled distances, namely the 500m, 1000m and 1500m events, for a total of six races each over the weekend. Athletes are vying for a spot on the team that will represent the country at the first four World Cup stages of the 2016-2017 season, with the first one to be held on home soil, at Calgary’s Olympic Oval, November 4-6, 2016. Tickets are available at http://www.universe.com/Calgary2016.

The four highest ranked skaters in the overall ranking, based on the total points earned in their two best distances at the Fall World Cup Selections, automatically qualify for the World Cups. The two other positions per gender will be discretionary choices. The team that will skate at the World Cup to be held in Calgary will be announced in the weeks following the Fall World Cup Selections.

The full schedule, the list of competing athletes as well as results will be available on Speed Skating Canada’s website at www.speedskating.ca.

Saturday’s results
1000m (1) M
1. Charles Hamelin
2. Charle Cournoyer
3. François Hamelin

1000m (1) W
1. Kim Boutin
2. Marianne St-Gelais
3. Marie-Ève Drolet

1500m (2) M
1. Charle Cournoyer
2. Charles Hamelin
3. Pascal Dion

1500m (2) W
1. Marianne St-Gelais
2. Marie-Ève Drolet
3. Jamie Macdonald

About Speed Skating Canada
Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. SSC recognizes and values its outstanding volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise. It also celebrates the 63 Olympic medals won by Canadian athletes since 1932, as well as the coaches, officials and other dedicated individuals who helped them on their journey.

SSC is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values including our premium sponsors Intact Insurance, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, City of Montreal, Calgary Olympic Oval and WinSport Canada.

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For information:
Patrick Godbout
Communications & Media Relations Manager
Speed Skating Canada
Email: pgodbout@speedskating.ca 
Phone: 514 213-9897
Website: www.speedskating.ca  
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