Kim Boutin will not compete at the 2021 World Championships

Women's national short track team leader Kim Boutin will not compete at the 2021 world championships in the Netherlands March 5-7.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: Danny Kim

Three-time Olympic medallist Kim Boutin is not on the list of Canadian skaters heading to the Netherlands for the 2021 World Championships. Here's her announcement:

'' I made the choice not to compete at Worlds this season. It's a totally considered decision and I'm convinced it's the right one. We've had a roller-coaster year with the pandemic and it was a good time to step back. My goal is clear: I want to be at the top of my mental and physical fitness for the Olympics in 2022 and I am confident that the plan we are putting in place will get me there.

In life it is important to listen to each other, I have always functioned this way and it has always paid off. 

You're going to be in for a real treat with the team of skaters that will represent Canada at Worlds. These girls are awesome to watch! ''

Women's team: 

Courtney Sarault

Alyson Charles

Florence Bunelle

Danaé Blais

Claudia Gagnon

Camille De Serres-Rainville 

Men's team: 

Charles Hamelin

Steven Dubois

Maxime Laoun

William Dandjinou

Jordan Pierre-Gilles

Pascal Dion

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Frédéric Blackburn is no longer the ladies' Canadian short track team coach

Photo: Martin Holtom

After more than ten years as a coach for Speed Skating Canada, Frederic Blackburn has been relieved of his duties.

The 47-year-old coach was under investigation following an harassment complaint made last spring by an athlete. 

Upon receipt of the complaint, Speed Skating Canada placed Blackburn on leave of absence with pay and conducted an independent investigation.

As a result of this investigation, Speed Skating Canada made a decision to dismiss Blackburn.

What's next?

Until a new coach is hired, Sébastien Cros, who is already in charge of the men's program, will also serve as head coach of the women's team. Speed Skating Canada is expected to make an announcement in the coming weeks regarding their solution to the current coaching shortage in Canada.

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Viktor Ahn gets a coaching position

The multiple world champion and Olympic medallist Viktor Ahn will coach China's national team for the 2022 Olympic Games.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: Tony Chung - SHORTTRACKHD

After turning down offers from the two countries where he skated, South Korea and Russia, it is finally in China that world champion Viktor Ahn will act as coach. The Korean-born skater is currently in isolation in China and is preparing to sign the official contract which would include a remuneration approaching 300,000 Euros per year. There is no doubt that China is ready to go all out to see its skaters perform at the Beijing Games. Ahn and the Chinese National team were secretly negotiating since his retirement in April.

Viktor Ahn is by far the most prolific short track skater in history. He collected six Olympic gold medals and eight world champion titles during his career. He retired for good in April.

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Annie Sarrat named head coach of the French national short track team

Annie Sarrat is the new head coach of the French National Short Track Team. 

Text: Jackob Savard

Photo: Stéphanie Jutras / CPVPAT

Annie Sarrat will be the new head coach of the French national team in Font-Romeu and will be in charge of restructuring the French short track program. Former short track skater Thibault Méline will be the assistant coach. Sarrat plans to leave Quebec for France at the end of June and will take up her duties on July 13. 

She is in part responsible for the development of some of Canada's best skaters including Steven Dubois, Pascal Dion, Maxime Laoun, and Camille Deserres-Rainville, all of whom spent part of their careers at the Pointe-aux-Trembles club coached by Sarrat. As a skater, she wore the colours of France and notably participated in the 1995 World Junior Championships.

The state of French short track

French speed skating is at a turning point in its history with the recent retirements of Véronique Pierron and Thibaut Fauconnet. Experienced skaters Sébastien Lepape and Tifany Huot-Marchand are still there while promising young skaters like Aurélie Monvoisin, Diané Sellier, Quentin Fercoq and Gabriel Volet are moving up the ladder and are already starting to make a name for themselves internationally.

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Véronique Pierron retires from short track speed skating

French short track speed skater Véronique Pierron announced her retirement today.

By Jackob Savard

Photos: Schaats Photo's & Véronique Pierron's Instagram account

Four-time Olympian Véronique Pierron, leader of the French short track team for several years, is officially hanging up her skates. The 30-year-old athlete made the announcement to her subscribers today through her Instagram account. 

Here is Pierron's statement (Translation by Passion/Speed/Skating)

I'm ready for the next trip. It is time to take a new road. My heart, my head and my body are telling me it's time to do something new. I've decided to retire from top level short track speed skating. I've always wanted to decide by myself to stop my career so that I would have no regrets. Skating is my whole life. It has made me who I am today and will always be something I am passionate about. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had in my long career. 

4 Olympics full of pitfalls and injuries from which I have always recovered. I think I've experienced everything in my career: victories, failures, joy, sadness, sharing... It’s not only about winning or losing, it's the road to the goals that is most beautiful.

I've been lucky to have a lot of people by my side, even in difficult times. I would like to thank all the people who have supported me throughout my journey: My family, my friends, my coaches, my teammates, the medics, my clubs, my Federation, my Region, my Department and the city of Reims... And finally, thank you to all the people who have been kind to me throughout these 15 years. I will be eternally grateful to them. I will always share my experiences with joy and passion.

Now it is my turn to transmit all the values I have acquired. It is therefore with pleasure that I will take care of young athletes at the national structure of Reims and the Reims speed skating club. 

I will also be happy to continue with the city of Reims which has supported me for many years. 

Thank you for your unfailing support.

Vévé. 💛

Regardez cette publication sur Instagram

Je suis prête pour le prochain voyage. Il est temps d’emprunter une nouvelle route. Mon cœur, ma tête et mon corps me disent qu'il est temps de faire quelque chose de nouveau. Et donc, j'ai décidé de me retirer du haut niveau. J’ai toujours voulu décider moi même de l’arrêt de ma carrière pour n’avoir aucun regret. Le patin est toute ma vie. Cela a fait de moi ce que je suis aujourd'hui et sera toujours quelque chose qui me passionne. Je suis tellement reconnaissante pour les opportunités que j'ai eues lors de ma longue carrière. 4 Olympiades parsemées d’embûches et de blessures dont je me suis toujours relevée, ce qui m’a rendu fière car mes performances ont été encore plus belles. Je pense avoir tout vécu au cours de ma carrière : victoires, échecs, joies, tristesse, partage... Il ne s'agit pas seulement de gagner ou de perdre, c’est le chemin qui mène aux objectifs qui est le plus beau. J’ai eu de la chance d'avoir beaucoup de gens à mes côtés, même dans les moments difficiles. Je remercie toutes les personnes qui m’ont soutenue tout au long de mon parcours : Ma famille, mes amis, mes entraîneurs, mes coéquipiers, le corps médical, mes clubs, ma Fédération , ma Région , mon Département et la ville de Reims... Et enfin merci à toutes les personnes qui ont été bienveillantes avec moi tout au long de ces 15 années. Je leur serai éternellement reconnaissante. Je partagerai toujours mes expériences avec joie et passion. Maintenant, c’est à mon tour de transmettre toutes les valeurs que j’ai acquises. C’est donc avec plaisir que je vais m’occuper de jeunes athlètes à la structure nationale relève de Reims ainsi qu’au sein du club Reims patinage de vitesse. Je serai également heureuse de continuer avec la ville de Reims qui me soutient depuis de nombreuses années. Merci pour votre soutien sans failles. Vévé. 💛 @laregiongrandest @departementmarnecom @villedereims @ffsportsdeglace @cneafontromeu @creps_reims . . . #TeamGrandEst #TeamEliteMarne . . . . 📷 @totemweb

Une publication partagée par Véronique Pierron ✨ (@vvpierron) le le 24 Mai 2020 à 4 h 05 m PDT

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The 2020 short track world championship is now officially cancelled

Photo: Martin Holtom

The 2020 World Short Track Championships are now officially cancelled. While the possibility of a postponement  had not been ruled out yet, the ISU decided to officially cancel it today. Therefore, there will be no World Champions in short track in 2020.

Here's the ISU official statement: 

Mindful of the escalating negative COVID-19 developments, the resulting world-wide human tragedy and the measures taken by the public authorities as well as logistical challenges the ISU Council during its on-line meeting held on April 16, 2020 concluded that a postponement of the pending 2020 ISU Championships is not possible. Consequently, the ISU Council has decided that the following ISU Championships must be definitely cancelled:

- ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, Seoul, March 13-15, 2020

- ISU World Figure Skating Championships, Montreal, March 16-22, 2020

- ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, Lake Placid, April 3-5, 2020.

In regard to the planning of the 2020/21 skating season and considering the uncertain development of the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on the staging of international sports events, the ISU Council will hold another on-line meeting on April 28 when different scenarios of the COVID-19 developments and impact on the ISU Event calendar will be discussed. The objective is to work out and communicate to all stakeholders options suitable for different scenarios in order to limit the uncertainty to the strict minimum.

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Breaking News: World championships in short track could be held this fall

The International Skating Union (ISU) just released a statement concerning the cancellation of the 2020 World championships in Korea. Instead of fully cancelling the event, the ISU is still looking into having it before the end of 2020. Here is the complete statement from the ISU. (Photo by Oscar van den Bosch)

On February 26, 2020 the ISU announced that the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2020 cannot be staged as originally foreseen on March 13-15, 2020 since, in light of the situation in South Korea, the competent authorities of the city of Seoul have closed the Mokdong Ice Rink and ordered the cancellation of all planned competitions.

In the meantime, the ISU evaluated the situation and concluded that considering the current uncertain developments surrounding the Coronavirus, a rescheduling and/or relocation of the above-mentioned Championships within the current season, even if the season would be extended by several weeks after its normal end in early April, cannot be reasonably considered. During the coming weeks, the ISU will evaluate in cooperation with all stakeholders whether the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2020 could possibly be held later in the year, but in any case not before mid-October 2020. The ISU will keep its Members informed on the ongoing evaluation and will announce a decision as soon as possible.

All other ISU Events for the season 2019/20 remain scheduled as planned. In this regard, the ISU is closely following the evolution of the Coronavirus and will follow the recommendations provided by the World Health Organization and the competent local authorities.

In particular, the ISU has updated the prevention measures it has implemented since February 4, 2020.

The ISU continues to work with local Medical personnel for each ISU Event who are in contact with their respective Public Health officials in the countries hosting ISU Events.

Because of the evolution of the Coronavirus outside of China the updated protocol for attending ISU Events is outlined below. The ISU educational sheet on coronavirus has also been updated and is available on the ISU website and the “ISU Events App” (available at ISU Events only).

Please be aware that anyone with ANY symptoms of acute illness shall NOT be traveling to ISU Events.

Anyone seeking accreditation for ISU Events will be required to complete the ISU questionnaire, which includes a temperature check. Any one with an acute illness or temperature will not be granted an accreditation. Instead they will be provided with a mask, isolated and will follow the protocol of the host country for testing and quarantine.

The ISU implemented precautions at ISU Events since February 4, 2020 and the precautions have been updated as of February 29, 2020 and are aimed at all accredited persons for the prevention of contracting the Coronavirus:

1. Questionnaire and health checks to be completed at arrival at the ISU Event
2. Health checks periodically throughout the ISU Event
3. Availability of tests for coronavirus on anyone with a temperature
4. Availability of masks for anyone who has cold-like symptoms or requests one. Please note that masks are not recommended for anyone who is healthy. Masks are recommended for anyone with symptoms.
5. Isolation room(s) to be available if necessary
6. Availability of hand sanitizer throughout the venue and the hotel
7. Gloves to be available if requested
8. Reinforce education regarding frequent hand washing, use of hand gel and cough etiquette.
9. Reduce handshaking and close physical contact
10. Educational sheet (see attached) is included in information on the ISU Events App.

Further, the ISU is in close contact with the Organizing Committees who will implement any necessary measures for the general public.

It is recommended to refer to the following links for the latest information, which may evolve in response to COVID-19 developments:

Coronavirus 2019 – WHO

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation reports – WHO

Travel restrictions, flight operations and screening – SOS International

Destination List - Centers for Disease control and presentation (CDC)

The ISU reiterates that it stands by all those who have been affected and threatened by this situation and wishes success to all those fighting to overcome the crisis, with the expectation and hope that the situation will be restored to normal as quickly as possible. The ISU expresses condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones due to this contagious disease.

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Coronavirus: World short track speed skating championships on hold

Photo by Oscar van den Bosch

The ISU released a statement concerning the 2020 World short track speed skating championships that were supposed to be held in Korea. After a few days of rumours the news is now official: the championships won't be held in South Korea. Athletes and fans now have to wait to know if this season's event will be cancelled or if it's going to be held at a later date in a new location. The name of Montreal, who's been a successful B plan in the past, is being thrown around but we'll have to wait for official words from the ISU. 

ISU Statement Coronavirus – ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2020, Seoul The ISU is closely following the coronavirus developments. 

The ISU stands by all those who have been affected and threatened by this situation and wishes success to all those fighting to overcome the crisis, with the expectation and hope that the situation will be restored to normal as quickly as possible. The ISU expresses condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones due to this contagious disease. 

In view of the planned ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul/South Korea on March 13-15, 2020, the ISU was especially monitoring the situation in the Seoul area. The ISU was informed through the Korea Skating Union that the competent authorities of the city of Seoul ordered the closing of the Mokdong Ice Rink and the cancellation of all planned competitions. The ISU therefore is unable to hold the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2020 at the above-mentioned planned date. The ISU thanks the Korea Skating Union for their efforts to prepare for this Event and for their cooperation during the critical monitoring phase leading up to this decision. 

Taking into account the uncertain world-wide development of the coronavirus, the limited and uncertain available time slots during the coming weeks and the logistical challenges of potential organizers and participating teams, a postponement and/or relocation of the Championships would be difficult to achieve. Nevertheless, a postponement and/or relocation of this Championships might be considered if the circumstances would allow so in due time. 

Before taking a final decision, the ISU will remain in close contact with the Korea Skating Union and ISU Members. The ISU regrets that the most important annual Short Track Event cannot be staged as planned but believes that under the current circumstances ISU Members, Skaters and fans will understand this decision.

We will make sure to keep you inform of the situation

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