Laurent Dubreuil kissed the Canada Cup winner's medal on Thursday, but the long-track speed skater is even more excited about the idea of competing in his first world championships at home, the first in Quebec in more than 30 years.
“It's a dream come true. From the moment we started building the ice center [Intact Assurance]“It became possible and for me the center is one of the top three in the world,” said Dubreuil less than a month before the event.
From February 2nd to 4th, the Olympic medalist and world champion from Quebec will finally have the opportunity to perform both in front of his fans and alongside the elite of his sport.
Quebec had not hosted a long track speed skating World Cup since 1992.
And it's time for preparations at the Ice Center. Because even though the place is brand new – it officially opened two years ago – and, in the eyes of skaters like Dubreuil, state-of-the-art, it still needs an extra polish to be the best in the world.
Big crowds expected
The ice is beautiful, but it has to be even more beautiful. “It doesn’t have to be the fastest, but the skaters have to feel comfortable,” explains the champion.
Isabelle Gélinas, special events director for the Quebec Speed Skating Federation, praises the “clarity” of the location. “People love the place,” she says.
There should be quite a few people there to cheer on the skaters all weekend long.
The organization hopes to attract between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators. “There are not many seats available, but we will add stands in the middle of the ring,” explains Ms. Gélinas.
“The big goal”
Volunteers also responded, and in large numbers. In fact, the organization has already hired more than 250 employees, which means it is fully booked in this regard.
“We even have a waiting list. We are delighted!” says manager Renée Thibault.
However, the person most enchanted by the organization of this event is Laurent Dubreuil. But the 1,000-meter silver medalist in Beijing two years ago isn't adding pressure to the idea of running in front of a crowd dedicated to his cause.
“At the point where I am in my career, it doesn’t matter if I don’t win a medal in Quebec,” he assures, adding: “But that remains the big goal!”
–In collaboration with Jessica Lapinski