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After a season that was for the largest part overshadowed by an injury that he sustained at the second World Cup, in Heerenveen, Vincent Labrie thus far has succeeded in giving this Olympic season a good start. He already raced to some fast times at the weekend trials in Calgary and looks back on a good Fall World Cup Selection in Richmond, where he finished second in the 500m after two solid races. These results have shown him that he is now fully recovered from his injury and is ready for the season to come.

By Jolanda Abbes

I can imagine your injury was pretty much the greatest disappointment of the past season for you, do you have any highlights for this last season?

“Last season started out pretty well for me; I skated a good time at the Summer Classic in Calgary without skating a whole lot before racing. But the real highlight of last season was coming to the first World Cup of the season and getting two top 10 finishes in the 500m.”

How do you look back on the Fall World Cup Selection in Richmond, would you consider this competition to be a good comeback after the previous season?

“I think it was a good comeback in the sense that I'm fully recovered from my injury and I proved to myself I can go fast and even faster in the next couple of months.”

You finished second in the 500m at the Fall World Cup Selection, how do you look back on those two races?

“I liked them. I was well prepared mentally. I always approach races the same way, no matter what the race is for, and it seems to work well. I was happy with the openers and pretty much every part of both races. I'm still working on a couple of things technically and I feel like things are coming together nicely.”

And how do you look back on your 1000m and 1500m in Richmond?

“I think there were some good parts, like my openers. They prove that my top speed is good. I know what I have to work on to be able to attack those two distances and that is what I will be focusing on now, as these things will help in the 500m as well.”

How do you look forward to the upcoming season and to the Olympics in particular?

“I'm making sure I remember that I keep seeing my speed skating career with a little bit of objectivity. It's easy to get caught up in the action and forget why I speed skate and what makes it enjoyable for me. Performing well at the Olympics is a big part of my goals for the season but I’m keeping in mind that there are World Cups and World Championships as well this year, and that there will be a 2010-2011 season too. My goal is to keep getting faster and I know this way I'll reach pretty much all of my objectives.”

What is the one thing/most memorable moment that sticks out for you when you think of the Olympics?

“Just being around top athletes was very special for me as 2005-2006 was my first year on the international circuit. I was really impressed by all the others skaters that I used to see on TV.”

What would you consider to be the highlight for you at the last Olympics?

“I think walking in the stadium for the opening ceremony was very special, unfortunately I don’t really remember skating at the Games as I was way too nervous! Haha.”

And what was the biggest disappointment for you at the last Olympics?

“It probably was to forget to live the moment for what it was and trying to do well instead of just having fun skating as fast as I could.”

Who would you consider to be the greatest Olympic speed skater ever?

“There have been many great Olympic skaters over the last few decades but being 26 years old I only saw a couple of them in action. The race I remember the most is definitely Dan Jansen’s 1000m in 1994; he showed so much mental strength and he was able to just let his body do what it could do best. It was an amazing performance.”

How do you look forward to the fact that the Olympics will practically be in your own backyard next year?

“Well if they are in my own backyard, this means that I would not have to travel about 5000 km to get to them! Haha. But it is exciting as people are getting to know a little bit more about the different sports and the athletes, hopefully this continues after the Games!”

Can you describe what the Olympics mean to you?

“It’s the most important competition for sure because a lot of people are watching and that’s what people will most likely remember about your career in North America, but I like to think that every competition is important and that there is more to a career than just the Olympic Games. That being said everybody who gets to the Olympics wants to win, so it’s the toughest race to win, which makes it very exciting.”

Photo credits: DESGphoto/Lars Hagen.