Rempel charts new course in speedskating

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This article was published 24/09/2020 (1905 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Shannon Rempel retired two years ago after a decorated international speedskating career, her future was mostly uncharted.

Armed with a communications degree from the University of Calgary, she entered the workforce as a disability case manager with Sun Life Financial while also doing corrective programming at a chiropractic clinic for patients with back injuries.

But the connection to speedskating remained strong. The 35-year-old Winnipeg product also had a sideline — coaching up-and-coming skaters with the Calgary Grizzlies Speedskating Club.

Then, earlier this week, Rempel’s dedication to her sport paid off in a significant way: the national long-track team announced she was returning to the fold as an assistant coach.

“They reached out to me at the end of July to apply for this position,” said Rempel by telephone from Calgary this week. “I was excited just for the opportunity to apply and very excited to be chosen.”

Based out of Calgary’s Olympic Oval, she will assist national team coaches Mark Wild, who serves as the men’s and women’s sprint coach, and Remmelt Eldering, who guides the women’s all-round team.

Wild was Rempel’s coach for the final three years of her career.

“It’ll be a wide range,” said Rempel of her responsibilities. “The sprint men and women and the long-distance team with Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann, they had a lot of success last season. It’s a really strong group of skaters that I’m coaching, so that’s exciting.”

After almost two decades with the national team, Rempel understands the stakes are high at the international level.

“I don’t think it’s an easy job being a coach,” she said. “It’s a lot of pressure. Athletes rely on their coaches a lot day to day, not just in terms of feedback but they’re there for emotional support, they’re there for guidance, mentorship. It’s kind of all-encompasing when you’re a coach at this level — you spend that much time with your athletes.

“I’m relatively familiar with what the lifestyle’s like, having worked with so many coaches in my career. There’s definitely pressure.”

The two-time Olympian won a silver medal in team pursuit with Clara Hughes, Cindy Klassen, Kristina Groves and Christine Nesbitt at the 2006 Olympics.

Getting the upcoming season underway will be a challenge during the pandemic.

“They don’t have an ice right now,” said Rempel, noting ice is normally in at the oval by August. “So they’ve been doing dryland training. I guess they’re wearing masks while training. It will be a lot different kind of environment coming in with COVID.”

The International Skating Union is pondering the options for a return to competition. Earlier this year, the first four World Cup events were cancelled in the wake of COVID-19 and the ISU is considering a hub concept in the Netherlands as an alternative, perhaps with three events staged back to back in November.

“They’re thinking of doing a bubble in Holland,” said Rempel. “That may be the only way they’ll be able to race and I think they’re looking forward to getting back on the ice as soon as possible.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14