For long-distance speed skater Laurent Dubreuil, the World Sprint Championships spell bad luck.
• Also read: Long Track Speed Skating World Championship: Laurent Dubreuil Vice World Champion
Dubreuil was in good shape after the first day of the 2022 World Sprint and was in first place after two races. He tested positive for COVID-19 and had to withdraw. Since he didn't take part in the second 500 m and 1000 m, the 31-year-old figure skater saw his hopes of a medal dwindle.
A few hours before departure to Inzell in Germany, where the sprint and all-distance world championships will take place from March 7th to 10th, Dubreuil is again struck by a health problem.
The two-time vice world champion in the 500 m lay on his back all weekend and consulted his doctor on Monday, who diagnosed him with streptococci. His antibiotic treatment ends next Wednesday, a day before his first test.
“I don’t have any fond memories of the last world sprint, but I don’t live in the past,” he emphasized. It was one of my biggest disappointments of my career, but I accepted the fact that I should have won. I have also accepted the fact that I will never win it unless a miracle happens.”
After a cold in January after the Canadian selection and another at the World Cup in Quebec in early February, Dubreuil is plagued by a virus for the third time this year. “I decided to have children and I don’t regret it. Fatherhood has allowed me to become a better person by developing better life balance.”
DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
Best form of the season
Dubreuil, silver medalist at the Olympic Games in Beijing a few weeks earlier, was the big favorite in Hamar, Norway and did not have to deal with the 17-year-old American prodigy Jordan Stolz, who still managed to finish in 4th place.
“After my positive test, Greg [Gregor Jelonek] told me that I would get together again in two years, emphasized Dubreuil, who won silver in 2020 at the age of 27. Deep down, I knew that pride would be strong this year and that the gap would become even greater in 2026.
Despite everything, he remains confident that he will be in good shape for the final meeting of his season. “My energy levels are much better than they were at the end of the week and I'm told I'm still doing well after three days of antibiotics. I hope I can skate on Friday and slowly come back.”
“I'm not worried about my physical condition, even though I haven't skated since I returned from Calgary,” Dubreuil continued. I was one of the favorites for a podium finish. I was in the best shape during my season and can't be bad two weeks later. I’m afraid I won’t have time to recover from the illness.”
Given his performances at the world distance races in Calgary, where he won silver in the 500 m and took 4th place in the 1000 m, Dubreuil was one of the favorites for the podium in Germany.
“I was at the peak of my performance during the most important time of the season. It is not impossible that I can deliver good races. It will be important to start the race rested and fresh. It's not the first time I've found myself in a difficult situation. In 2022 I responded with a gold medal at the last World Cup of the season in Heerenveen after the disappointment in the world sprint. My expectations have dropped, but they will come back if things go well in training. I’m taking it one day at a time.”
After gold in 2022 in Heerenveen, a 4th place followed the next day, confirming his first World Cup championship title in the overall ranking.