Speedskating-online

After numerous podium finishes at the World Cups, and claiming the overall bronze medal and the 500m gold medal at the World Championships, Charles Hamelin can look back on a very successful season. In fact, based on his past season’s results, Hamelin pre-qualified for the Olympic Games in Vancouver as early as last March. Not burdened with the pressure of having to qualify at the Olympic Trials, Hamelin reflects on his past season and on the Olympic season to come.

By Jolanda Abbes

How do you look back on this past season? Did you meet your goals and expectations?
“Yeah pretty much, although I was a little disappointed about my 1500m and 1000m at the World Championships. But I'm happy about my overall result.”

Would you consider the past season to be a good blueprint for next season?
“You can have a good idea of which skater will be strong or not because of the past season, but there will always be a couple of surprises during the season. That is what makes short track so exciting!”

What would you consider to be the highlight and greatest disappointment of the past season and why?
“The highlights for me would be my victory in the 500m and my third place in the 3000m at the World Championships. The 500m because I was able to win this title again, and the 3000m because it was the first time in my life that I took a lap on the pack and usually I'm not that good in the 3000m. In terms of disappointments I would have to say the 1500m and 1000m. Both for the same reason: I knew that I could step on the podium in both races.”

How do you look forward to next season and to the Olympics in particular?
“Of course I want individual medals, but right now the focus is on training really hard and skating fast!”

What is the one thing/most memorable moment that sticks out for you when you think of the Olympics?
“When I received my silver medal for the relay in Torino, because it's such a big thing! For an athlete to be able to win an Olympic medal, it's such a big accomplishment!”

What would you consider to be the highlight of the last Olympics?
“My silver medal in the relay, because every Olympian wants to come back home with a medal but to do so is not an easy thing...”

And what was the biggest disappointment for you at the last Olympics?
“My fourth place in the 1500m, because I was bumped by a Chinese skater when I was on my way to a bronze medal.”

Who would you consider to be the greatest Olympic speed skater ever?
“Hyun Soo Ahn: he is such a great skater, he is the skater with the best technique and tactics, better than anyone I have ever seen in my life. He has a solution in every situation that he is put in. I think every speed skater dreams of being as great as him!”

How do you look forward to the fact that the Olympics will practically be in your own backyard next year? Does that fact create extra pressure or do you think it will give the Canadian athletes a significant home advantage?
“I think it's a really good thing for the Canadian athletes. Of course there is pressure but there is pressure at every Olympics. I think the fun of racing in front of my family and friends will be more important than the pressure of skating in front of a home crowd. I think it will give our Canadian team wings! Hehehe.”

Can you describe what the Olympics mean to you?
“It’s the event that every athlete wants to participate in. Every athlete wants to feel the ambiance at the Olympics at least once in his life!”

Photo credits:

Photo 1: Arno Hoogveld

Photos 2 - 4: Alison Gilkes

Alison Gilkes is a member of the Sports Journalist Association of Great Britain and the International Sports Press Association. Alison is a specialist short track photographer who has covered international competitions across Europe since 2000. Her mission is to make the best possible photographs of these amazing athletes to widen appreciation of this relatively unknown sport.

Alison was recently granted a full photo accreditation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and is currently taking orders from national federations for picture packages from the short track and long track events. If your national team wants to secure the best photographs at favourable rates please get in touch now and make an advance booking.

Back to feature stories