The 2021 Canadian Short Track Championships came to an end today at the Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal.
Text: Jackob Savard
Photo: Antoine Saito
At this national competition, the top 20 skaters in the country had to compete three times on every distance in order to collect points to qualify for the six-skater racing pool from which the athletes who will go to the 2022 Olympics will be chosen. The best two races of the best two distances for every skaters were kept for the overall classification.
Dubois Canadian Champion
Steven Dubois was crowned Canadian champion at the end of the five days of racing. During the selections, he won four distances and finished second four times. The skater from Lachenaie, Quebec will lead the Canadian men's team at the 2022 Olympic Games. Pascal Dion and Jordan Pierre-Gilles rounded out the men's top three with two and one win respectively.
Boutin in a class of her own in the women's competition
Sherbrooke's Kim Boutin dominated the selections by winning five distances. New Brunswick's Courtney Sarault took second place, winning the 500m (3) and 1500m (3) on the final day of competition. Seventeen year old Florence Brunelle of Trois-Rivières won two distances and finished third overall.
Dandjinou’s comeback on the last day
William Dandjinou went from 7th place to 4th place on the last day to invite himself in the discussions for the 2022 Olympic team. On Sunday, he won the 500m (3) in brilliant fashion with a spectacular last lap pass on Steven Dubois and finished second in the 1500m (3). If Olympic selections are about who can race under pressure, it is clear that young Dandjinou proved he was able to do so today.
Speed Skating Canada will officially announce the 6 men and 6 women who will join the racing pool. It should be noted that skaters who did not finish the competition such as Charles Hamelin, Danaé Blais or Maxime Laoun could still join this group by discretionary choices or byes.
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