Speed Skating Canada – Montreal, August 24, 2016 – Short track speed skater Yoan Gauthier, of Rivière-du-Loup, QC, has announced his retirement from competitive skating.

 

A member of the National Development Team over the last three seasons, Gauthier, age 22, won two medals at the Winter Universiade, including a bronze in the 1500m and a silver in the men’s relay. Gauthier skated in two ISU World Junior Championships, was crowned Canadian junior champion in 2012 and 2013, and represented his country at two ISU World Cup stages.

 

“Several factors had an impact on my decision, but the main reason was that I am starting my university studies in electrical engineering at Polytechnique Montréal,” explained Gauthier. “After having a harder time getting through the last two years despite my best efforts in training and in competition, I thought it was wise to focus on my studies and invest all my energy in that direction.”

 

“Obviously, with the 2018 Olympic Games coming up, it seemed like a reasonable date to target. But objectively, considering how I am feeling and what I’ve gone through over the last two years, I don’t think I would have been consistent enough to continue, creating a situation that could have had negative effects for me and my future.”

 

Over his career, Yoan Gauthier skated at the first two World Cup events of the 2014-2015 season, including the Montreal stage where he finished fourth in the A final of the 500m.

 

He also represented Canada at the Winter Universiade in 2013 and 2015. In Trentino, Italy in 2013, Yoan Gauthier won a silver medal in the men’s relay and bronze in the 1500m. He also skated in two ISU World Junior Championships, collecting a silver medal in the men’s relay at the 2013 event held in Warsaw, Poland.

 

He finished ninth in national standings in each of the last two seasons.

 

“Speed skating has given me a lot of emotional moments and I will come away from the sport with a lot of great memories, including my medals at the World Junior Championships and the Winter Universiade,” said Yoan Gauthier. “But the highlight of my career, although I did not win a medal, will always be the time I qualified for the 500m final in front of a fired up crowd at the Montreal World Cup in 2014. That was an incredible moment! I was at the top of my game and the crowd was there to support me. I have terrific memories from that day and that was a great gift that I received.”

 

Yoan Gauthier also took the opportunity to pay tribute to all the people who contributed to his success throughout his career.

 

“I would first like to thank everyone who supported me, who came to see me compete, who asked how I was doing and who was there for me over the last 16 years. Thank you also to my coaches, from those who taught me at training camps to those who guided me at international events, and from those at the Loupiots skating club in Rivière-du-Loup to the National Centre. I would also like to thank Sport Canada and the Équipe Québec program for their financial support. A big thank you also to Premier Tech, who believed in me early on in my career and allowed me to pursue my dream as an athlete. Finally, last but no least, thank you to my parents, who were there all the way through, in the good times and the bad. Thank you!”

 

More details are available at Speed Skating Canada’s website at www.speedskating.ca.

 

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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