Courtney Sarault was in a dark place at Beijing Olympics. Then her speedskating teammates stepped up

By: Rosie DiManno - Star Columnist, Toronto Star Posted: 3:08 PM CST Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 Last Modified: 5:12 PM CST Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022

Advertise with us

BEIJING—Courtney Sarault was crushed by the women’s 3,000-metre relay final. Despondent that she hadn’t been able to hold Canada’s third-place position as the laps dwindled down.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

BEIJING—Courtney Sarault was crushed by the women’s 3,000-metre relay final. Despondent that she hadn’t been able to hold Canada’s third-place position as the laps dwindled down.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/02/2022 (1302 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BEIJING—Courtney Sarault was crushed by the women’s 3,000-metre relay final. Despondent that she hadn’t been able to hold Canada’s third-place position as the laps dwindled down.

Blamed herself.

To the point that the 21-year-old short-track speedskater from Moncton, N.B., didn’t think she could bring herself to the start line for Wednesday night’s 1,500-metre race.

WANG ZHAO - AFP via GETTY IMAGES
Canada's Kim Boutin pushes teammate Courtney Sarault in a semifinal heat of the women's 3,000-metre relay short-track speedskating event on Feb. 9, 2022. — WANG ZHAO - AFP via GETTY IMAGES Canada's Kim Boutin pushes teammate Courtney Sarault in a semifinal heat of the women's 3,000-metre relay short-track speedskating event on Feb. 9, 2022.

“I wanted to hide in my room,” Sarault said.

Which says a great deal about the stresses and pressures that athletes face — take upon themselves — at the Olympics.

“I felt like it was a failure for my Olympics,” Sarault told reporters in the mixed zone, her mood not improved by having just missed out advancing to the A final of the 1,500 — literally by the length of a toe in a photo finish with Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands.

“Other people aren’t saying that but I’m really hard on myself. So, I took it really hard,’’ continued Sarault, referring to the relay in particular, which she’d anchored. “I felt like my body started shutting down after that. I didn’t think I would be able to skate today with that mindset.’’

But this first-time Olympian was shaken out of her downbeat mood by her teammates, both men and women, and most especially by Kim Boutin, who’s had a topsy-turvy Games of her own.

“They got me out, they got me going to training, even if I didn’t want to,’’ said Sarault. “Teammates, coaches, Kim Boutin was a really big help. It’s not her first Olympics, she’s experienced a lot. She really cared about me and making sure I was OK.’’

Made it to the arena, made it to the start line, made it to the finish line, just a heartbeat too slow, and made it to the B final, as did Boutin, both of them failing to advance from the semi.

“We’re here to make memories,” said Boutin later, when Sarault’s words were repeated to her. “We can’t destroy ourselves.”

Boutin and Sarault finished third and fourth, respectively, in the B final.

Not how Sarault had envisioned her Olympics but taking some comfort from rebounding from what had felt like a gut-punch.

“The fact that I was able to overcome what I thought I couldn’t overcome, I’m really proud of myself. That gives me the confidence and shows me how strong I really am.”