Several minutes after having “almost yelled at the crowd” by celebrating on the ice, according to Laurent Dubreuil, Gregor Jelonek let himself be won over by other emotions by taking off his shoes on the coaches’ bench in the middle of the ring.
Posted at 9:18 p.m.
Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu, 22and of this historic 1000 meters on Friday at the National Oval in Beijing, regained his coach to take him in his arms. Jelonek burst into tears.
“It’s still incredible to see the emotion, noted Dubreuil a little later. Gregor me coach since I was 16 years and 9 months old. What athlete can say that? Several people have already told me that I deserve this medal. Gregor also deserves it as coach. It’s really special to share that with him. »
Calling the 500 meters a “mistake,” Jelonek was confident his protege would be able to recover.
PHOTO YAN DOUBLET, LE SOLEIL ARCHIVES
Laurent Dubreuil and Gregor Jelonek
“I knew he was going to bounce back, assured the coach, his voice hoarse. I wasn’t even nervous today. I was calm. Laurent is good at it. He has incredible strength of character. »
This medal is the result of a 13-year collaboration, recalled Jelonek, who has been practicing his profession for 27 years, after a skating career which led him to the Calgary Olympics in 1988.
“Laurent was not the same at 18, 19 or 20 years old. His personal evolution, where he is in life at the moment… It takes maturity [pour réussir cela], whether physical or mental. »
It’s been 27 years since I coach athletes in rain and snow. We have always believed in ourselves even if many people did not believe us capable of developing [de bons patineurs] in Quebec. I’m super proud of how the athletes react. Personally, it is a great achievement.
Gregor Jelonek, coach of Laurent Dubreuil
Inaugurated at the end of last summer, the Ice Center in Quebec City only served Dubreuil in the home stretch that led him to this silver medal. The new equipment will allow him to prolong his career.
“I had to fight against the elements, travel like crazy to do camps. If I am able to win a medal in this context, those who grow up with the ring will be cursed. »
Dubreuil recognized the legacy of Gaétan Boucher, a “superhuman” whose exploits were told to him by his parents, Ariane Loignon and Robert Dubreuil, two teammates at the time.
“What he was doing was incredible. I am far from being good like Gaétan. I have a silver medal, he has two gold, one silver and one bronze. If I can inspire a few like Gaétan inspired a generation, that’s going to be a winner. »
Aged 29, Dubreuil wants to skate “for a long time”, but above all to be a “positive leader”.
“I hope to have a long career like Charles Hamelin, who must be the idol of all the other guys in the team [de courte piste] right now. If I’m able to play a similar role – again, I’m much worse than Charles Hamelin – that’ll be it. »
Such shared happiness, they have no intention of waiting another three decades to relive it.