Speed Skating Canada – Montreal, April 25, 2018 – National Short Track Speed Skating Team member Patrick Duffy from Oakville, ON, announced his retirement from competition.

Duffy, aged 27 and who represented Quebec on the national stage since 2013-2014, took part in his first ISU World Cup in the winter of 2012 after he represented Canada at the 2011 World Junior Championships, where he took part in the men’s relay bronze medal.

He then wore the Canadian skinsuit at 14 World Cups, where he won six medals as part of the men’s relay team. Individually, he won two bronze medals in the 1000m at the stages held in Erzurum, Turkey, in 2015, and in Gangneung, South Korea, in December of 2016. He also took part in the World Championships in Moscow in 2015, as well as in the 2013 Winter Universiade in Italy where he won silver medals in the 1000m and the men’s relay.

At the last World Cup of the 2016-2017 season held in Minsk, Belarus, Patrick Duffy was involved in a crash that resulted in cervical and thoracic fractures as well as in a vertebral artery dissection. A long recovery brought him back on the ice during the summer of 2017.

“Over the past couple of years, the pressure coming from myself had been weighing on me, making it hard to be positive and optimistic with my performances,” said Patrick Duffy. “While I had a ton of fun, the pressure and training as a whole were taking its toll on my body. Also, having my crash last February 2017 really put my life into perspective, and skating as a whole as well. The accident, weirdly enough, was actually something that was for the better, where I was able to see things in a different light and be more free. Now I’m ready for the next step in my life.”

Patrick Duffy is finishing his degree in history at Concordia University in Montreal.

Among his best memories, Patrick Duffy mentions the gold medal he won in the men’s relay event at the World Cup held in his home province, in Toronto, in November 2015.

“I like to think that, that weekend, we set a new standard for ourselves and the program, that led to such a successful year for the guys this past Olympic year,” he noted.

He will also remember the bronze medal he earned in the 1000m held in Gangneung, where “holding off three South Koreans over the last two laps is a gold medal in and of itself”, as well as his participation in the 2013 Winter Universiade where, he said, he “never had so much fun travelling and competing with the team”.

Patrick Duffy also took the opportunity to thank his family and girlfriend.

“My family and girlfriend have shown the most amazing support an athlete can ever hope to receive. Every medal I earned in my career was just as much theirs as it was mine. And finally, someone who I can never thank enough, our physiotherapist Veronique Carmel. I gave her a run for her money last February, but she proved once again that nobody can get the best of her!”

More information is available on Speed Skating Canada’s website: www.speedskating.ca.

About Speed Skating Canada
Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, SSC is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial associations. Speed Skating Canada is committed to Challenge and Inspire Canada to Thrive through the power of Speed Skating. 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. www.speedskating.ca

Speed Skating Canada would like to thank its sponsors:
Premium partner: Intact Insurance

Funding partners: Government of Canada (Sport Canada), Own The Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee

Official On-Ice High Performance Apparel: Li-Ning

Long Track Team Sponsor: KIA

Official Suppliers: Auclair, USANA

Official Technical Equipment Supplier: Nagano Skate

Sport Development Partners: Winsport Canada, Calgary’s Olympic Oval, University of Calgary, Institut national du sport du Québec, Government of Quebec, Canadian Sport Institute-Calgary, City of Montreal, Quebec City, Excellence sportive Québec-Lévis

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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 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC