When Florence Brunelle watched the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018, she would never have imagined participating in the Winter Games four years later.
Posted at 2:46 p.m.
The Trifluvienne still had a preference for soccer, and not short track speed skating. It wasn’t until her participation in the Winter Youth Olympics and the World Junior Short Track Championships early in 2020 that she realized her potential. She then won bronze in the 1,000 meters at the Youth Games and silver in the 500 and 1,500 meters at the Junior Worlds.
“That’s when I realized that it was possible to participate in the Olympics in two years,” said Brunelle during a recent virtual interview with The Canadian Press.
“I told myself that it was enough to train hard to reach the necessary level,” added the 18-year-old skater.
Shortly after his participation in the Youth Games and the Junior Worlds, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Brunelle, who will become the youngest Canadian short track skater to participate in the Olympics, managed to take advantage of the situation, even though several competitions were canceled.
“I didn’t gain experience in competition, but I was able to train very hard physically and technically,” noted Brunelle, who started speed skating at the age of 7. It allowed me to pick up a mark that I was missing. »
Brunelle was finally entitled to her baptism in senior competitions by participating in the Worlds in March 2021. She then made her debut on the World Cup circuit this fall, notably obtaining a fourth place in the 500 meters in Debrecen, Hungary .
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Although she stresses that it is still too early to draw conclusions from her first season on the World Cup circuit, Brunelle has nevertheless found the experience very rewarding.
“I realized that I had certain qualities as a skater that make me belong at this level, that make me in the ‘game’. I also realized that there are lots of little things that I had never noticed before, little things that other skaters have,” she said.
She indicated that she had become particularly aware of the challenge represented by the sequence of races during a weekend of competition.
“I don’t think I ever realized what high level short track speed skating is,” she admitted.
Be good with yourself
In addition to working on the physical and technical aspects over the past two years, Brunelle has also had to make adjustments to his psychological approach.
“I think since I was young I’ve been doing really well, I’m talented. I often manage to win competitions. I think I defined myself by that, she admits. It put a lot of pressure on me to win because I defined myself by the performance I gave. I was very stressed. I did not feel well.
“Today, I realize that I am more than a short track skater. Yes, it is important for me what will happen in competition. But mentally, that doesn’t define who I am. I won’t be upset if something happens, because I know I have other things, I like other things. »
Brunelle worked a lot with the mental trainer of the short track team, Fabien Abejean, as well as with a psychologist to change his mentality.
“I know my best races when I tell myself that I’m here to have fun, because I can’t wait to skate,” she said. This is where I want to give it my all because it’s worth it and it’s so enjoyable. I live a good time when I dive into the race. »
Brunelle has long been confronted with the need to accept herself. She was born with only two fingers on her left hand, but she no longer lets that disability define her.
“At some point in my life, I realized that what could be said about my hand said more about the people making those comments than about me,” she said. At that time, it became a thing of the past to have pain or to feel more different from others. Now I live well with it.
“I hope that all people who have a disability like this and who can be bothered by it realize that they are more than their disability, even if it is part of them. »
The short track speed skating events will begin on February 5 with the presentation of the women’s 500 meters in particular. Short track speed skating is also on the schedule on February 7, 9, 11, 13 and 16.
—
The short track speed skating events will begin on February 5 with the presentation of the women’s 500 meters in particular. Short track speed skating is also on the schedule on February 7, 9, 11, 13 and 16.