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Charles Hamelin (CAN) WSTSSC 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1134424483

Charles Hamelin (CAN) at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 

Charles Hamelin almost retired last summer, but when it came to the moment of truth, the elder statesman of Canadian Short Track – now 34 and entering his 16th World Championships – just couldn’t do it.

“The main reason was that when I came back to Montreal after the (PyeongChang 2018) Olympics, it was just so good skating with the boys at the World Championships, and I was skating so good,” he says. Hamelin was crowned overall 2018 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Champion, and realized that his passion for competing was still burning strong.

Charles Hamelin of Canada celebrates with brother Francois Hamelin and Pascal Dion WSTSSC 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 933726230

Charles Hamelin (CAN) celebrates with brother Francois Hamelin and Pascal Dion at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

“I started to have a doubt in my mind about stopping. I thought: ‘Maybe I have got some other years in my legs to race against the best in the world.’ I didn’t want to stop and still have that doubt in my mind.”

The other strong factor in his decision? The palpable team spirit currently propelling Team Canada, in which Hamelin has assumed a mentor role to his country’s young competitors (Samuel Girard calls him a “friend and big brother”).

“I love the sport and I love the kids in Canada that are skating now,” he says. “I am taking the role of mentor more and more seriously. It’s a big challenge for me and I want to help bring the team at its best to every competition.”

In Girard and Steven Dubois, two of the most promising racers in the sport, Hamelin recognizes younger versions of himself. “Samuel has been on the team for the last five years. He was really young when he first made it – he was the same age as me when I first came on to the team,” says Hamelin. “So with my brother Francois, we tried to give him the best path to success.”

Samuel Girard (CAN) Charles Hamelin (CAN) WSTSSC 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 933687998

Samuel Girard (CAN) and Charles Hamelin (CAN) at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

“And now we have Steven Dubois, who is one of our best skaters right now. His technique is great and he’s super small. He can surprise everyone at these World Championships. We have a lot of fun together. That’s why I wake up every day and I want to go to the rink to suffer on the ice!”

Steven Dubois (CAN) WCSTSS (CAN) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1128495078

Steven Dubois (CAN) at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating (CAN) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

 

Hamelin sees his guidance as a calming presence, and leadership by example, rather than being dispatched in the form of advice or instruction. “It’s more like I try to give them confidence,” he says. “So Steven is at his first World Championships. We talk about how it will be, but it’s all about the work you’ve done this season… letting them know that if they are confident in themselves, anything can happen during this weekend.

“Be at your best, and the results can come. It’s about getting them into a positive mindset.”

Hamelin feels that there are certain things not quite working in his country’s favor, however. Canada changed head coaches in mid-summer, and a slightly directionless early-summer training period left them playing catch-up at the start of the World Cup season.

Charles Hamelin (CAN) WSTSSC 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 933086614

Charles Hamelin (CAN) at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 

“I’m maybe not in my best shape because of the summer. We had trouble, we didn’t have a coach, we didn’t have a proper plan,” he says. “We started late with our new coach Eric Bedard, and it wasn’t much time to do things.

“But we picked up pace week after week. Our results, form, technique and racing skills are getting better through the season and we are now at our best point in the season. Whether it’s good enough to win at the World Championships, it will be interesting to see. We have three strong guys on the ice.”

Charles Hamelin (CAN) Samuel Girard (CAN) WSTSSC (CAN)©International Skating Union (ISU) 936309584

Charles Hamelin (CAN) Samuel Girard (CAN) at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 

Meanwhile, Hamelin puts his longevity down to listening to advice – and a degree of luck. “I never did more than I had to do, or less than I had to do. I stuck to what the coaches told me. Taking care of yourself is important, and I’ve never lost the passion of skating.

“And I didn’t have any big injuries – I need to touch wood now – so I was lucky with that. When you have big injuries, coming back takes a lot of time and energy and sometimes you don’t return to where you were.

“I worked really hard, too. I learned to work in a good way with my coach, which was my father, and he taught me a good recipe to be a good athlete. He did his job well. I’m at my 16th World Cup, and my brother did 13. You don’t see many skating that long.”

Can he push on to the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games? “I can’t say that I don’t want to go,” admits Hamelin with a smile. “That would be my last dream, but I can’t say either that I will be going for sure. I’m going to skate next season and see how it goes. At the end of that season, I will have the same task.”

Charles Hamelin (CAN) WSTSSC 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1134424754

Charles Hamelin (CAN) at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 

When he does retire, Hamelin plans to work more with the skate company he partly owns, and coach at kids’ camps. But that alternative reality might well be a few years away still. As he says: “I’ve still got the legs to jump on some podiums.”

In the meantime, follow Hamelin during ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships - Sofia (BUL) from March 8-10,2019. Find out where to watch here and stay connected on FacebookTwitterInstagram and YouTube to catch all the action.