Charles Hamelin summed up his career in one word: family.
And it is in front of family and friends, including his daughter, Violette, that he will do his last lap, as part of the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships presented from April 8 to 10 at the Maurice-Richard Arena. from Montreal.
“It will be the first and the last time that she [sa fille, qui aura deux ans plus tard en avril] will be able to see me in competition,” said Hamelin, who will hang up his skates at the end of the event.
“We bought earmuffs so that the noise of the crowd wouldn’t bother her too much,” he added at a press conference on Wednesday. I can’t wait to have her with me during the competition, so that she can feel the atmosphere. She sees me on TV and she knows I skate, because she says, “Dad! Dad ! let’s go ! let’s go !” But I want her to feel the energy of the crowd during a competition. I can not wait. »
Hamelin was to retire at the end of the 2018 season. He was then experiencing a separation from his partner and longtime teammate, Marianne St-Gelais. He said he did not want to end his career with the bitter taste of the Pyeongchang Olympics in his mouth, even though he had won the cumulative title at the Worlds, also presented in Montreal, a few weeks later.
This time, Hamelin is calm as he nears his last strokes in competition.
“We had so much fun in Beijing, despite COVID, masks and testing,” he said.
During the Beijing Olympics, Hamelin won gold along with Pascal Dion, Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Maxime Laoun in the men’s 5000 meter relay. The one who is nicknamed “the locomotive of Sainte-Julie” thus joined the long track speed skater Cindy Klassen at the top of the most decorated Canadian athletes at the Winter Games. Swimmer Penny Oleksiak is Canada’s most medal-winning Olympic athlete with seven.
Hamelin, which will celebrate its 38and birthday on April 14, also joined hockey players Caroline Ouellette, Jayna Hefford and Hayley Wickenheiser at the top of Canada’s gold medal winning column with four.
During his long career, which began on the World Cup circuit in 2003, Hamelin also won 37 World Cup medals and well over a hundred World Cup medals, becoming one of the great stars of his sport.
“Charles was a role model for so many athletes,” said Kim Boutin, barely containing her emotions. It was thanks to him that I believed in my dreams, that I believed that I could write my own story. »
“There’s a young team behind him, and it’s special to see a great athlete who continues to inspire young people by being himself. »
Hamelin also struggled to hold back tears during testimonials from his teammates on Wednesday.
“It makes me emotional,” admitted Hamelin. What I like most about it is that I firmly believe that this gang will continue what I did with the others who have already retired. They are the ones who will lead the group, and behind, there are young people who grow and who want to win, to write their own story too. »
Hamelin said he should have been in Punta Cana, Mexico this week with his partner, Geneviève Tardif, and their daughter. He had to postpone the project when the Short Track World Championships were postponed for three weeks in order to be presented as planned in Montreal in front of spectators.
He would never have missed this opportunity to conclude his career with the family.
“Speed skating is family,” said Hamelin. You are part of a team. I always say that the members of the national team are going to be part of my family for the rest of my life. As soon as I started, in Sainte-Julie, I felt that I had a second family — everyone at the arena, the skaters, the coaches, the parents. It’s still like that 30 years later. »
“You have to have dreams and believe in them, believe in yourself and work hard while having fun. Without pleasure, I would not be here. It’s essential in all aspects of life, to have fun. »
Hamelin, who will only participate in the relay event during the Worlds, therefore promises to take full advantage of his last moments as an athlete. No matter the outcome, he’ll just have to watch his family and daughter in the stands to keep smiling.