(Beijing) The short track speed skating competition schedule at the Olympics is unique. Rather than chaining the events over different distances in four days, the events are spread over six racing sessions in 12 days.
Posted at 8:17 a.m.
Seven of the 10 members of the Canadian short track team are at their first Olympic Games in Beijing, but they can always turn to veteran Charles Hamelin for some advice on how to adapt their preparation for this unique event in their calendar.
“It’s good because it gives time to breathe, to come down to earth and focus on what’s to come,” Hamelin said of the many days off the short track schedule at the Games. Olympics.
“Between race days, we have on-ice training and it’s more or less busy, depending on where we are in the Olympic schedule. There are also days off to recover,” added Hamelin, who recently shared with The Canadian Press how he fills his 24 hours before a race.
After practice the night before a competition day, Hamelin thinks it’s important to relax a bit.
“We can’t see our family and friends this time, but we can enjoy ourselves in the Olympic Village as we usually do,” said the man, who is in his fifth Olympic Games.
“I’m not worried at all. We have a conversation group and we have prepared everything we need to get out of our minds. We have board games, a PlayStation 5 and a Nintendo Switch. So we have plenty of stuff to pass the time, which may sometimes be too long. »
Another peculiarity of the Olympic schedule is the time at which the short track competitions take place. Rather than being presented in the afternoon, the races take place in the evening, often between 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
The skaters therefore want to go to bed and get up a little later than usual, in order to still have a good level of energy in the evening for the races. Hamelin said this is a bit more of a challenge for him, who has been used to going to bed early for nearly two years, following the birth of his daughter, Violette.
“The change of time zone still helps to modify the sleep schedule,” Hamelin recalled, however.
On the morning of the competitions, the skaters have an activation session by cycling, stretching and skating movements to loosen their legs. Next, it is important to eat well and drink plenty to stay hydrated.
“At the buffet, I eat what I want, something that I know is good for me,” Hamelin said. I also bring plenty of snacks, things that I know will go well in my body.
“In competition, you are more stressed, and not everyone likes to eat a big meal before the races. But you have to eat well and be able to have the necessary energy to perform well in each race. »
The skaters take part in a warm-up approximately one hour before the start of the racing session. The representatives of the different countries have a window of about 10 minutes on the ice.
Hamelin is one of those people whose ears are kept busy during the warm-up and when he arrives on the ice before the races.
“I have a playlist of about 150 songs. It’s always the same list, but so I don’t necessarily always listen to the same songs, even if I have some favorites that I will listen to more often, Hamelin mentioned. They are songs of the moment and even sometimes, when I listen to a movie and I find an interesting track, I will tag it and add it to the list. »
After the warm-up, the skaters sharpen their skates one last time and review the race plan with their coach.
“We can relax a bit and then go back to the area where we tie our skates about 10 minutes before the competition. After that, we are ready for war,” Hamelin concluded.