Charles Hamelin was to do his last lap in 2018. The PyeongChang Olympics were to be his last. He could have retired in glory a few weeks later, after triumphing at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Montreal.
Posted at 2:43 p.m.
But the one nicknamed the “Sainte-Julie Locomotive” had not yet reached its final destination.
“Maybe subconsciously in 2018 I was not ready. My brother (François) was retiring. It was a bit of a group retreat. But when I thought about what I wanted to do, it led me to a questioning, ”said Hamelin during a recent virtual interview with The Canadian Press.
With my performances in training between the Games and the Worlds, I realized that it made no sense for me to retire. I told myself to take it one year at a time and luckily I listened to myself! I went to the Games. These will be my fifth. It’s special to be able to do that.
Charles Hamelin
Now 37, Hamelin says he is comfortable with the fact that he is on his last laps. And he has everything he needs to flourish in his post-career.
Hamelin has been involved for several years in the equipment company Nagano Skate. He also plans to publish his biography this fall. And perhaps most importantly, he now has to take care of his daughter, Violette, along with his partner, Geneviève Tardif.
“There are plenty of things waiting for me,” noted Hamelin. I have to get married this summer. We will have our honeymoon in South Africa if we can travel. We cross our fingers.
“I’m at peace with what I’ve done in my career,” he added. I can’t wait to let the young people go, to see who will be the skater who can break my records. It’s intriguing. It will be interesting to follow. »
With smile
Hamelin admits it bluntly, he was not in the best state of mind at the PyeongChang Games. His longtime relationship with short track skater Marianne St-Gelais was over, although the couple had decided not to go public until the end of the season.
The news finally broke through a brief statement between the Games and Worlds. St-Gelais was part of the group of skaters who planned to retire after the Worlds.
Clearly, in 2018, things weren’t going well in my head. It’s one of the reasons why I didn’t have the expected performance in PyeongChang.
Charles Hamelin
He then added a fifth Olympic medal to his collection — bronze in the men’s relay. However, he settled for 9and rank in the 1000 meters and 13and rank at 1500 meters.
Hamelin is hoping to make amends this time around at the Beijing Games. This is despite suffering a concussion at the Canadian Championships in August and failing to win individual medals at the four World Cup stops this fall.
“I had some bad luck in Europe, but I’d rather it happen there than at the Olympics,” Hamelin said. I’m heading into the Games with full confidence. The times in training show that I am in very good shape. »
Much like his long track speed skating teammate Laurent Dubreuil, Hamelin also believes fulfillment in his family life has helped him skate more lightly since the birth of his daughter in April 2020.
“Violet is not aware that Dad fell or found his training less than usual,” Hamelin said. Violette sees Papa coming home, she puts on a big smile and just wants to give kisses! It makes you forget everything bad or good that happened at the arena.
“That means that I don’t think about skating anywhere other than the arena. So I have more energy to give in the present moment when I have to be at my best on the ice. »
A medal in Beijing would allow Hamelin to join long track speed skater Cindy Klassen as Canada’s most decorated athletes at the Winter Games. Swimmer Penny Oleksiak is the most Olympic athlete with seven medals.
A gold medal would also allow Hamelin to join hockey players Caroline Ouellette, Jayna Hefford and Hayley Wickenheiser at the top of the gold medal column with four.
Even if he had to experience triumphant journeys at the Beijing Games, then at the Worlds, scheduled for March 18 to 20 in Montreal, Hamelin promises not to reconsider his decision to hang up his skates this time.
“That would be the best of endings — the dream ending. But the dream end for me will not only be based on the medals, but also on the attitude I have. If I have a smile on my face and come home happy, it will be mission accomplished,” concluded Hamelin.
The short track speed skating events will begin on February 5 with, in particular, the presentation of the qualifications for the men’s 1000 meters and the final of the mixed relay. Short track speed skating is also on the schedule on February 7, 9, 11, 13 and 16.