BEIJING | Gregor Jelonek was jubilant when he saw the number two appear on the scoreboard which confirmed his protege’s silver medal.
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“When I crossed the line, Gregor was screaming he was so happy,” said Laurent Dubreuil. It’s really amazing to share this moment with him. It’s a very special moment. Gregor has been my coach since I was 16. Some told me I deserved an Olympic medal, but Gregor deserved one as a coach. He simply told me: “you did it, you succeeded”. »
Happy for his protege
Jelonek was overjoyed. “I’m super happy for Laurent,” he said. He works hard and he’s been performing really well at the international level for three or four years. He wanted this medal as much as possible and that makes a difference. I knew he was able to bounce back due to his incredible strength of character, but to do so at the Olympics, especially after his 4and place in the 500 m, it’s incredible. Unlike the 500m, I wasn’t upset. I was calm and knew he was going to bounce back. »
“We didn’t talk much before the race,” added Jelonek. He knew what he had to do. In those days, my job is super easy. »
Photo Didier Debusschere
Coach Gregor Jelonek hastened to congratulate his protege Laurent Dubreuil, silver medalist in the 1000m.
The first step?
Jelonek believes that Dubreuil could have climbed to the top step of the podium if the Dutchman Kai Verbij had not got up when he saw that he was going to find himself in the trajectory of his opponent who was arriving at full speed in the outside corridor, and who had priority.
“I think Laurent would have passed Krol if Verbij hadn’t gotten up and he had been able to take advantage of his slipstream,” he explained. He had no choice but to get up and leave him, because Laurent had priority coming from the outside lane at the crossing and was going faster. If Verbij had been a little further ahead, Laurent would have had a target and that would have propelled him even further. »
Cannon start
Accustomed to seeing Dubreuil in advance during the first 600 meters, did Jelonek fear that he lacked gas in the final stretch as was the case a few times in the World Cup this year?
“We worked on this aspect on the return from Europe and I was confident that he would make it to the line without running out of energy,” he explained. He lost weight too and that helped him. »
Little secretive
After the disappointment of the 500m, Jelonek told us that Dubreuil was capable of finishing in the Top 5 in the 1000m, but he assures that he was convinced that his protege had the stuff to win a medal.
“You have to know how to dose, he said to explain his prediction. I knew he was capable of winning a medal and Laurent knew it too, even if he hadn’t won any this season at the World Cup. We had done the necessary work. If I had told you that he had a chance of a medal, that would have been a mistake and I would have put too much pressure on Laurent’s shoulders. He’s already had enough. »
“His 4th place in the 500 m was a mistake because he would have been able to be on the podium, added Jelonek. He was a bit distracted and didn’t have a perfect race. The false start combined with his nervousness and high expectations changed the picture. »
Jelonek believes that the fact that Dubreuil remained positive despite his great disappointment weighed heavily in the balance.
“For the past two years, because of COVID, my watchword to athletes has been to stay positive and adapt,” said the Olympian from the Calgary Games. When you have this mindset, good things happen. »
