Short track speed skater Pascal Dion is 28 years old and has two Olympic Games appearances behind the tie. He rubbed shoulders with monuments of the past like Marc Gagnon and Charles Hamelin and up-and-coming skaters like Félix Roussel and Mathieu Pelletier. To maintain the heritage, it would be necessary to “find the new history”.
Dion is the most experienced skater on the Canadian team. His greatest quality is undoubtedly his ability to take the lead each season, even if he gets older each year.
When The Press met him at the Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, he had just returned from South Korea, where the World Short Track Championships had taken place. The Montrealer won the bronze medal there in the 1,500 meter event. This medal was added to the five obtained this season in the World Cup.
“It feels good to come back,” he said.
Especially after an emotionally charged season. He and the team had great joys, some disappointments, but overall, Dion draws a positive assessment of the winter that has just ended. Especially collectively.
We have seen many different skaters perform and that is the beauty of short track skating. It’s a sport in which it’s difficult to be consistent throughout a season. Canada really won a lot of medals and that’s what you have to remember.
Pascal Dion
In all, 37 medals, more precisely. A staggering harvest for a team that is still young. “The team is really where it should be,” he thinks.
He mentioned Félix Roussel, “who was new to the World Cup team”. And even Jordan Pierre-Gilles, “who had his first individual medal”, won in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the 1000 meter event.
This season has also been a real break with the past. The history of Canadian speed skating is prestigious. However, according to Dion, we should shine a light on new faces and look forward instead of relying on the success of yesteryear.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Pascal Dion
“We talked a lot about Charles [Hamelin] in recent years, with good reason, he recalls. I think there are skaters who were improving and who were a bit in the shadows. I think this year everything comes out, and there’s just positive to come. »
Dion speaks of a “new beginning” for speed skating here. “That would be the job media to go to these new stories,” he added.
Among them, he names that of Roussel and Mathieu Pelletier. “There are really more young people with very good potential. »
female talent
The two-time Olympic medalist also recalled how much the women’s side of the national team deserved more attention.
“In recent years, the girls had performed a little less well,” he admits. There has always been Kim [Boutin] and courtney [Sarault] who managed to win some medals. »
This season, the two skaters mentioned have continued to collect medals. Sarault brought home six. Boutin, four. However, the last few months have seen the emergence of other skaters, such as Rikki Doak, winner of two individual medals.
PHOTO KIM HONG-JI, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Renée Steenge, Claudia Gagnon, Courtney Sarault, Rikki Doak and Kim Boutin after their third place in the women’s 3000m relay in Seoul
The women also won six medals in the relay.
“We are starting to have the same depth as with the boys,” rejoices Dion.
This is also encouraging for the new mixed relay events: “For both teams, there is great potential and I think that will make the mixed relay, a new event, going to be super strong! »