Judging by the tickets to Beijing received by its athletes, the Montreal Ice Academy (I. AM) seems to be the ideal means of transport to get to the Olympic Games in ice dancing. A reliable vehicle that has proven itself and which was notably borrowed by two duos from Quebec, who soon arrived at their destination.

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha started the current Olympic cycle as juniors, while Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen were just joining the Canadian team. In both cases, they followed the instructions of experienced coaches such as Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon and Romain Haguenauer.

We have to admit that the magnetism of this trio is gaining in intensity: no less than 22 athletes and five coaches from the Academy will be at the Beijing Olympics in ice dancing, representing eight different countries in total. His leadership can be seen in several ways, notably in his ability to surround himself with “the best coaches in the world” to attract the greatest skaters on the planet.

These three veterans served as guides and engines through the storm, both remotely and face-to-face. A look back at two distinct routes to demonstrate this, drawn with the help of dedicated mentors and taken by inspiring athletes who have managed to stay the course all the way to Beijing.

In the big leagues

Partners when they were novices, Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha separated temporarily before Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon offered them a new union when they arrived at the Academy.

“They had a big role to play when we met as future coaches and made sure that we were together. […] They really act as mentors, they have a wealth of experience. It really is a great school,” boasts Marjorie Lajoie.

Both dancers were sparkling in the juniors. Three-time Canadian champions in this category and multiple Grand Prix medalists, their last lap ended with gold at the Junior World Championships in Zagreb in 2019.

It was high time for them to step up a gear. It was with both hands on the wheel that they arrived in the senior ranks watching their final year of junior eligibility slip away for lack of goals to achieve.

“We finished on the best note we could finish,” says Lajoie.

Their performances, however, did not satisfy them on their debut in the big leagues.

“As junior world champions, I thought the world was going to have a lot of expectations of us. I put too much pressure on myself and it wasn’t fun at first, explains Lajoie. I think it’s to our advantage that we had a bad start to the season being younger. It’s better than later, when it starts to count for real. »

They had to take a step back to find their way back and the pandemic hit when they needed a break. A sort of pit stop where they were able to make the necessary adjustments, at a time when the pressure was curbing their ambitions.

“It was a bit of a gift for us, because we were able to rework on the basis of our skate. The competitions stopped and we really worked to look more like seniors, ”describes Marjorie.

“I think it opened our eyes,” continues Zachary. We worked, but we worked like everyone else. There was no extra work and when there is no extra work, the slope of improvement is just average. Everyone gets a little better every year, but it’s not enough to stand out. »

We can guess that it is this mentality that motivates Marie-France Dubreuil to call them her “Superkids “.

“They never go by half measures, they are always at the fullest! she describes.

This “realization” has therefore changed the situation and put the duo back on the right track with their old habits.

A fine tactician at heart, Zachary Lagha attaches great importance to dissecting performances and refining programs. If he neglected video analysis and corrections during his rookie year, he promised himself not to make the same mistake again.

When everyone is at it

Marjorie Lajoie is constantly looking for the missing element, too. A finishing touch that will speed up the process.

“We don’t go on the ice to be told that everything is fine. It’s a sport of perfection and you’ll never be perfect. There will always be ways to improve,” she says.

The work of the Academy coaches then comes into play. They are able to target the problems, while granting a lot of autonomy to their proteges. Everyone has their say, which helps make the school so unique. Everyone puts their shoulder to the wheel.

“We like to develop each athlete with uniqueness, according to the personalities, confirms Marie-France Dubreuil. We do not do assembly line work, even if the number [d’élèves] may suggest that. Each couple brings different qualities. »

Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen have worked with their coaches for ten years and can testify to this.

“They are very good at seeing the qualities of the athletes and bringing them out, judges Laurence. What sets them apart, and it’s a value they try to promote when they teach, is that it’s not just the athlete they are developing. They don’t just want to develop abilities to make clean turns, but for you to be a better person in society. »

Here too, the coaches have largely influenced the destiny of their athletes, and this, since the beginning of their career.

Fournier-Beaudry and Sorensen were both looking for a partner in 2012. Sorensen had hesitated a long time and had set his sights on Ontario’s Vanessa Crone, Olympian at the Vancouver Games.

Six months later, Crone pulled out and Nikolaj Sorensen backtracked. He contacted Laurence Fournier-Beaudry by text messaging the same day. They have teamed up ever since and are now a couple.

Already, Marie-France Dubreuil had smelled this connection and believed that Laurence was the best partner for Nikolaj.

“I remember she said to me at the time ‘Nik, we couldn’t really convince you, but we thought from the start that Laurence was the best option for you, even if she wasn’t ranked as high and less well-known”, says Nikolaj Sorensen.

After five seasons representing Denmark, Sorensen and Fournier-Beaudry were heading straight for a dead end. The PyeongChang Games slipped their hands in 2018, since Laurence did not have Danish citizenship.

The Olympic dream was only achievable by changing cars and that’s what they did by moving into the Canadian camp. It was the only possible way out so as not to have to turn around.

“It happened in small doses. We realized that they were very good, but that they did not have the necessary support to go further. They were signing tops-10 without benefiting from the adequate assistance of a federation”, raises Marie-France Dubreuil.

The concern she showed for the wishes of her athletes perfectly illustrates the definition shared by Laurence Fournier-Beaudry.

“They told me that they would never be complete without the possibility of doing the Olympics. I don’t want one of my couples to end their career with a bitter taste, that would be the worst thing! [En tant qu’entraîneure], you can’t control the results, but you have to do everything to make their journey a positive experience. »

The relationship has only solidified over time and has helped everyone keep their eyes on the Olympic road, even though the horizon seemed to point to a mirage a few years ago. Sorensen and Fournier-Beaudry have never been alone in this journey plagued by suspension, injuries and a pandemic.

Next stop !

Going from four Olympic couples to eleven in just one Olympic cycle, the best is yet to come for the Montreal Ice Academy, which even launched a second school in London, Ont., just under a year ago. . Another proof of the magnetic power of the coaches: this program is overseen by their former athlete Scott Moir, Olympic champion who insisted on remaining by their side after his retirement.

“We focus on excellence, but when you enter the school, you don’t think they are competitors. It’s teamwork and we like that everyone plays to raise each other, ”says Marie-France Dubreuil, who will accompany the American team to Beijing. All dressed in black that said, by way of impartiality.

The vehicle is going at high speed and is not about to stop. Drivers’ passion evolves over time, but retains its authenticity. If some doubt it, they will only have to watch their passengers monopolize the Palais omnisports of the capital in February. Nearly half rub shoulders daily and competitors will feel right at home.