Hamelin, St-Gelais et al. begin their preparation for Pyeongchang

Photo: Yuri Kadobnov Agence France-Presse
“The performance of the guys, especially with the start of the season when selections for the olympic games, show that we are ready to face the competition,” said the skater Charles Hamelin.

The veteran Charles Hamelin, Marianne St-Gelais and Valérie Maltais, as well as rising stars Samuel Girard and Kim Boutin will kick-off their international season this weekend at the first world Cup short track speed skating in Budapest, Hungary.

The canadian team is also made up of Kasandra Bradette, Jamie Macdonald, Charle Cournoyer, Pascal Dion and Francois Hamelin. Audrey Phaneuf and Steven Dubois round out the team of the world Cup.

This fall, members of the olympic team preliminary will take part in four stages of the world Cup. Each time, a maximum of three skaters and three skaters will take part in each of the individual events and thus earn points. At the conclusion of four world Cups, the three best performances of each will be retained, which will be used to determine the ranking of olympic qualification and to distribute the available seats in order of the events in Pyeongchang.

In Hungary, Boutin and Malta will take part in the 1000 m and 1500 m, while Bradette will be at the start line at 500 m and 1000 m, and Macdonald in the 500 m and 1500 m. St-Gelais will participate at the event in the 500-m.

“In the company of my coach and my support team, we agreed that it was wise that I attend only to the test of the 500 m for the first world Cup of the season, said St-Gelais. I know starting the season slower. At this point in the season, I’m not quite at the physical level that I would have liked to be. “

The boys are ready

In men, Girard, Charles Hamelin and Cournoyer will represent the country in each of the three individual events at the displays.

“The performance of the guys, especially with the start of the season when selections for the olympic games, show that we are ready to face the competition, said Charles Hamelin, who starts 15th season on the international scene. The team is going super well and we really improved during the summer. “

In addition to the individual distances, another objective of the canadian skaters will qualify for the relay, finishing among the top seven since South Korea, as the host country, the is office. In this event, Canada will be able to send a full team of five skaters and five skaters. Otherwise, a maximum of three skaters and three skaters will be able to go to the olympic Games.