The Short Track World Cup speed skating starts this Friday at the Maurice Richard Arena, and for Quebec’s Danaé Blais it would be a great opportunity to finally win a first individual medal at the international level.
Blais, 24, has come close to this feat so many times. Just last season there was that fourth place in the 500m in Montreal, the same result in the 500m in Salt Lake City – just behind her compatriot Rikki Doak – and then another fourth place in the 1000m in Dordrecht in the Netherlands. Last year she also competed in A-Finals in three different distances (500m, 1000m and 1500m).
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“It is part of the reality that I have often been at the bottom of the podium in the World Cup, but it remains one of my best results in my life,” commented the athlete from Châteauguay. Of course, last year I was very frustrated and angry because I was regularly getting close to a medal, but I was also proud because I realized that I could be one of the best in the world.
Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY
“We have to be proud of fourth place, but we won’t hide it: we train hard all year long to be on the podium,” she added. We’re extremely competitive and we want that little moment of glory because that’s part of our salary at the end.”
More force
Coming so close to a medal has served as additional motivation for Blais in training over the past few months.
“Danaé has always had interesting technical qualities,” says coach Sébastien Cros. For me she is one of the best athletes on the international stage. She also has a flair for racing, which is something she was born with. What she was still missing was the physical level, where she had to apply a little more strength and resistance. She worked on it all summer. I see her as a skater who will continue to progress over the next two or three years.”
At 1000m and 1500m
The efforts put into the training have already paid off. At the Canadian Championships in Montreal at the beginning of October, she showed consistency and took third place overall behind Kim Boutin and Courtney Sarault. She placed second in a 1500 meter race and placed third in the two different 1000 meter finals as well as another third place in the 500 meter race.
“It was my best Canadian Championships of my career,” she agreed.
In Montreal this weekend, Blais will be in action in both the 1000m and 1500m, aiming to win that famous first individual medal missing from his list of achievements. She will also take part in the relay competitions.
Under the eyes of his big brother
There was a time when Cédrik and Danaé Blais, brother and sister, dreamed of taking part in the Olympic Games together. Fate would have it different, but the relationship between these two athletes from the same family is no less special.
“I want to win a medal in Montreal and see him celebrating in the stands,” said Danaé Blais, who faces the world championships this weekend and dreams of standing on the podium in front of his family. I think he would be completely proud of me.”
Archive photo / Chantal Poirier / Journal de Montréal
While maintaining the utmost discretion, Danaé summarizes her big brother’s journey with great affection.
“My brother retired a few months before the Olympic selection for the 2022 Games. When he retired it hurt me a lot because in our wildest dreams we went to the Olympics together. (…) The world of elite sport is extremely difficult for several reasons. Sometimes it’s better to step away from it to maintain good mental health.”
In short, Cédrik was no longer having fun when he decided to hang up his skates.
“He is the person who understands me the most,” Danaé added with emotion about her eldest. I know he will always be there for me today. His retirement came under somewhat difficult circumstances and I don’t think he has fully recovered emotionally yet, but I still know he is capable of putting his feelings aside and being there for me. It touches me even more.”
A mentor
Danaé suspects that she wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t been accompanied by her big brother for many years.
“Cédrik has been a mentor to me throughout my career. I made my World Cup debut with him and we won relay medals [mixte] together. We had a caring and supportive relationship. We experienced everything together… And in his case, he also won several individual medals. He was an incredible sprinter.”
Danaé now hopes to win at least one solo medal at the World Championships. And for her, there would be nothing more meaningful than accomplishing this feat for the first time in the Maurice Richard Arena under the eyes of her big brother.