There is no stress… Félix Roussel talks calmly and relaxed about his completely crazy journey. However, he knows better than anyone that he has come a long way.
“I never played ice hockey, my parents weren’t particularly keen on the idea of spending their weekends at arenas, but it definitely didn’t work out because I chose another sport on skates,” the young Sherbrooke resident points out humorous.
He thought about hanging up his skates not long ago. But his persistence and resilience ultimately paid off.
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Just last year, Roussel served as a training partner for the girls’ Canadian short track team. He has since earned his place on the men’s team.
At 22, Roussel will have followed a winding path that will make him enjoy even more his presence on the Maurice Richard Arena rink this weekend as part of the first installment of the World Cup season. His family and friends will be there to encourage him.
“It was difficult because I suffered a concussion in March 2022, which prevented me from being in the national team,” he summarizes. I just had no chance of qualifying. At that point I didn’t know if I had to stop speed skating.”
An unexpected call
While he was contemplating his future, Roussel received an unexpected call to help the girls train.
“My job was to show the girls tricks to help them improve,” he describes, immediately crediting his roommate Kim Boutin of Sherbrooke, who helped breathe new life into his career. Kim was really supportive, she told me we would have fun and work hard together.
“Skating with a role model like her helped me improve my work ethic and it also helped me in my racing. It’s an experience that I don’t regret in any way… Although I trained with the girls, I managed to get my place in the men’s team and that’s where my international journey began. »
Famous overtaking
To the surprise of many, Roussel first stood out at the Canadian Championships in October 2022 in Quebec. Thanks to an overtaking maneuver on the last lap, he took third place in the final 1000 meter race, thereby securing his place on the men’s national team.
“Last year I really came out of the shadows,” he said. Before that, I was always a little under the radar because of COVID and everything else… As a junior, I was always close to making the World Cup, but I was always the backup or the go-to guy. Thereafter.”
Martin Chevalier / JdeM
Roussel continued to thrive in extraordinary fashion, even managing to win an individual World Cup medal last February in Dresden, Germany. Only the South Korean Park Ji-won and the Latvian Roberts Kruzbergs then defeated him in the 1000 m final, which gave him bronze.
“I didn’t expect to win an individual medal as a rookie,” he admits. For me it was a dream and it only motivates me even more for my second year. I want to get back on the podium and show that I can do even better.”
A neglected role
Although he shows humility in front of the other members of the national team, namely Steven Dubois, Pascal Dion, Maxime Laoun and William Dandjinou, Roussel does not suffer from an inferiority complex.
“Like everyone, I want to win,” he said. I got a little taste of that last year with my first individual medal. I still have the role of underdog and don’t want to compare myself with Olympic champions, but each of us has our strengths and I am also capable of getting to the final.
“Félix is one of those athletes who can shine on the international stage,” says coach Sébastien Cros. This is part of the philosophy that we have wanted to implement over the last few years. You have to compete by being brave, you have to try things, go there to win even if that means failing. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but at least you develop that mentality. Félix is 100% there.”
In Montreal, in addition to the relays, Roussel is primarily counting on the 500-meter run to stand out this weekend. He will also compete in the 1500m, which he admits is not his favorite distance. After a second World Championship held at the Maurice Richard Arena from October 27th to 29th, the young man will also take part in planned competitions in China and South Korea in December.