Laurent Dubreuil will be on the starting line of the Olympic 500 meters on February 12, having won eight medals in as many races over this distance this season on the World Cup circuit. The Quebec long track skater even achieved the third best time in history, in Calgary, this fall.
Anything other than an Olympic medal would be devastating for most athletes, but not for Dubreuil.
“I am happy in my life, with my family and my daughter, said Dubreuil during a recent virtual interview with The Canadian Press. Everything is fine. I’m happy and I don’t have an Olympic medal right now. I’m totally ready to live the rest of my life without winning one. It is not a “must”. It doesn’t define me as a person.
“Yes, it would be a professional success to achieve a result there (at the Beijing Games). But in the end, it won’t influence my long-term happiness. »
Dubreuil, 29, bluntly admits the birth of his daughter Rose in 2019 has changed him, offering a different perspective to his life and daily life. He insists that he is still passionate about long track speed skating, which he describes as “a magnificent sport”, but he now manages to separate the sporting aspect from the rest of his life.
Despite his ambitions and his desire to be successful on the ice ovals, Dubreuil’s priority remains his daughter’s happiness. And after all, he found that his results made little difference to his life. Dubreuil said that other than “perhaps to find sponsors”, his victory at the World Championship last spring had no impact on his daily life.
“Whether it’s a good race or a bad race, I’m happy in life,” he said. That’s why I think I’ll get to the starting line and won’t be particularly stressed compared to my rivals.
“For most athletes, sport is the only thing in their life. We always say that you need a balance, something else to balance, so that everything is not on the skate. For me, it was impossible before I had a family. »
family affair
Born in Lévis, Dubreuil grew up in a family of skaters. His parents, Robert Dubreuil and Ariane Loignon, had a career in this sport and Robert Dubreuil is still involved as general manager of the Quebec Speed Skating Federation.
Laurent Dubreuil admits to being very passionate about his sport and having put a lot of pressure on his shoulders during his career. But this pressure never came from his parents, because they lived their dream. Similarly, Dubreuil says he will never put pressure on his daughter if she ever decides to put on skates like him.
“I’m going to have lived my dreams and I’m just going to want her to be happy,” he said. Sport, I find that it offers great lessons – not about winning at all costs, but about what to teach. It’s perseverance and the work ethic, to be a good loser and a good winner.
“Me, I was a bad loser when I was young and that taught me not to be anymore because my parents did not tolerate that. »
This apprenticeship and the birth of his daughter therefore enabled Dubreuil to approach the Beijing Games with serenity.
“Whether or not I win a medal at the Olympics, if I fall, if I catch COVID and I can’t participate, my month of May is going to be the same in any case, insisted Dubreuil. I’m going to start training again. I will do what I love. I will be fine.
“Yes, I want to win, but without the pressure that comes with thinking it’s a matter of life or death. I’m happier in life, more relaxed and better at competing since Rose was born. Maybe it helped me relax. I’ve been better since it’s less crucial in my life, which is still funny. »
Dubreuil finished 18th in the 500 meters at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, and 25th in the 1,000 meters. No doubt it should improve these results. But if he doesn’t, it won’t change his happiness.
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The long track speed skating events will begin on February 5 at the Beijing Games, with the presentation of the women’s 3000 meters. The men’s 500 meters is scheduled for February 12.
