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BEIJING, China — Quebec long-track speed skater Laurent Dubreuil spent six days trying to overcome disappointment after finishing fourth in his favorite event, the 500 meters.
Showing up on the starting line without the weight of expectations for the 1000 meters, Dubreuil won the silver medal on Friday at the Beijing Olympics.
“To go from one of the biggest disappointments of my career to one of the best moments, it’s indescribable,” said the 29-year-old Lévisien. I couldn’t believe it when I crossed the finish line. »
Skating in the last pair, Dubreuil clocked 1:08.32 and slotted in between Dutchman Thomas Krol (1:07.92) and Norwegian Haavard Lorentzen (1:08.48).
Connor Howe of Canmore, Alta., was 12th with a time of 1:08.97. Sherbrooke resident Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu settled for 22nd place with a time of 1:10.075.
Last Saturday, Dubreuil finished three hundredths off the podium in the 500 meters at the National Speed Skating Oval. He was the reigning world champion in that distance and had won a medal in each of the eight races on the World Cup circuit this season.
In the 1,000 meters, Dubreuil did not make the podium this fall. However, he had won bronze over this distance at the Worlds in 2020 and 2021.
“I knew he was capable of winning a medal,” said Dubreuil’s coach, Gregor Jelonek. Laurent knew it too. We knew he had potential and we worked on his race. But it wouldn’t have been nice of me to say he was capable of winning a medal. It would have put too much pressure on him and he had enough of that already. »
Dubreuil has repeated in recent months that the birth of his daughter Rose in 2019 allowed him to separate his personal and professional life. He said he didn’t need a medal to be happy. That didn’t stop him from having a hard time overcoming his disappointment after finishing fourth in the 500 metres.
“What makes me happy in life beyond skating is my family and I am alone here,” Dubreuil recalled of the health measures that prevented the families of the athletes from coming to encourage them on site in Beijing. .
“I changed my mindset after the 500 metres. I just wanted to have fun on the ice, surprise myself and surprise people, he added. I had nothing to lose. That’s what my parents and my coach told me. I focused on my pleasure. »
On Friday, Dubreuil had the best opening of the competition, clearing the first 200 meters in 16.09 seconds. His next 400 meters were also the fastest of the day, clocking 24.73.
“I saw that I was seven tenths ahead after 600 meters because I have a bad habit of looking at the screen,” said Dubreuil. I said to myself “Oh boy! It could be”. But I know that Thomas (Krol) is stronger than me at the end of the race. He won silver in the 1500 meters.
“Me, I had good starts, but my last lap was not excellent. After my 600, I just wanted to maintain my technique until the end. »
Dubreuil came out of the penultimate corner side by side with his pair opponent, the Dutchman Kai Verbij, reigning world champion in the 1000 meters. In this situation, the rule asks the skater in the inside lane to give way to the one coming from the outside lane.
“I decided to give way because I didn’t want to ruin someone else’s Olympic race,” said Verbij, who would have risked disqualification had he not done so or he had jostled Dubreuil. At that point, I knew it was over for me. »
Verbij added that he will need a long time to get over his disappointment. Dubreuil could empathize with the Dutchman, having felt similar emotions just six days ago. However, he underlined the great class of his rival.
“I am enormously indebted and grateful,” said Dubreuil.
After crossing the finish line, Dubreuil raised both arms to the sky. He hugged Jelonek and then completed a lap while waving the Canadian flag.
On the podium, he indicated “two” with his right hand.
“We try to explain to my daughter that Dad prefers to win and that 1 is better than 2, but 2 is his favorite number,” explained Dubreuil. For her, it’s probably the dream scenario that I finish second.
“When she says Dad is the best because he’s second, I’m going to agree with her for the first time! »
Efforts that pay off
After the World Cup season this fall, Dubreuil focused on training to have enough energy to keep up the pace in the final moments of the 1,000 metres. In particular, it has reduced some weight at its hinge.
“When you win as a favorite, you are relieved,” said Dubreuil. But when you win as an underdog, you’re so happy. It’s only positive.
“I worked extremely hard to be good in the 1,000 meters and it’s crazy to win a medal in my worst distance. »
Dubreuil is the third Canadian to win an Olympic medal in the 1,000 metres, after Denny Morrison (silver, 2014) and Gaétan Boucher (gold, 1984, and silver, 1980). He is also the first Quebecer to win an individual Olympic long track medal since Boucher in 1984.
This medal was also won a few months after the opening of the Ice Center in Quebec.
“It will give young people the opportunity to believe that it is possible to train in Quebec in good conditions and to perform,” said Jelonek. But we must not forget that Laurent worked very hard for 13 years before the opening of the ring in Quebec, training outside, traveling a lot, etc. But we have always believed in ourselves, even if many people did not believe us capable of developing skaters in Quebec and succeeding in being among the best in the world. »
Dubreuil now promises that it won’t be another 38 years before seeing a Quebecer on the Olympic podium again in an individual long track event.
“If I can inspire young people like Gaétan inspired a generation, that’s it,” said Dubreuil.
“I lacked nothing to be happy in life. On the professional side, I was probably missing an Olympic medal. There, I really don’t miss anything. All I do now is bonus. Yes, I can skate for a long time, but I want to be a positive leader and lead others to that level. »
Dubreuil recalled that having won his Olympic medal after experiencing a great disappointment will help him teach perseverance and show that it pays to work hard and believe in your abilities.
“This is what the week I have just experienced demonstrates,” he concluded.
