Today, Wed. Jan., 31, Fort St. James speed skater, Jamie Macdonald is finally on her way to the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. Last week Wednesday Speed Skating Canada unveiled its final roster for the 2018 Olympic Games, adding the Canadian short track team names to the previously announced relay team. Macdonald made it onto the women’s relay team as previously reported and now she has secured a spot in the individual short track races as well.
On the women’s side, Macdonald, the only skater from B.C. and Western Canada [the other nine short track team members and two additional relay skaters are all from Quebec] will be in action in the 500m, helping the Canadian team the maximum amount of spots, i.e. three per individual event. Kim Boutin and Marianne St-Gelais from Quebec will be the busiest skaters, as they will both take part in all three individual events – the 500m, the 1000m and the 1500m.
“[Macdonald] is the only speed skater not originally from Quebec and she happens to be from here! This is great for our little town, our local speed skating club the Fort St. James Falcons, and for B.C.” says Fort resident Megan Reidlinger.
The short track speed skating races at the Olympic Games will be held over five days between Feb. 10 - 22.
Macdonald is skating on day 1: Sat., Feb. 10 in the qualifying races for women’s 500m, women’s relay. On day 2: Tues., Feb. 13 Macdonald is skating in the women’s 500m final and on day 4: Tues., Feb. 20, Macdonald will be competing in the women’s relay final.
“I think we have a solid team, there’s a good balance and some good chemistry,” said Charles Hamelin, of Quebec. Hamelin is one of the more experienced Olympic men’s team racers. “The fact that there are rookies and veterans will allow for a good level of energy and a great atmosphere throughout the Games.”
The Canadian team will aim to improve on its performance of three medals at the 2014 Games and to add on to the total of 28 medals it has won so far in Olympic history since this sport was officially included in the Olympic program at the 1992 Games.
- with press release from Speed Skating Canada, www.speedskating.ca