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“On the go” since earning her fourth and final medal at the Milano-Cortina Olympics on Feb. 18, it wasn’t until Courtney Sarault returned to her hometown of Moncton, N.B., that she understood the impact of her speed skating success.
Kids at the Arthur-J.-LeBlanc Centre in Dieppe, the rink where Sarault got her start in the sport, were so excited they cried when she surprised them on the ice during practice in March. Sarault then spent nearly two hours talking to people and taking pictures.
The following night, the City of Dieppe installed a banner in the arena to commemorate her Olympic performance. The next day, the City of Moncton invited the public to gather at Downtown Place, outside the Avenir Centre.
It was cold and snowing but several people stood in line to share a few minutes with Sarault, a 25-year-old two-time Olympian.
“It was such a special moment,” Sarault, who lives and trains in Montreal, said during a visit to CBC Sports headquarters in Toronto on Tuesday. “I didn’t realize the impact I had on the city. To see [people] support me in not very good weather was incredible.
“I think it was three or four hours of taking pictures. And then I did a [ceremonial] puck drop at the Moncton Wildcats [Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League] game.”
Courtney Sarault, who won four Olympic medals at Milano Cortina 2026, talks about the alter ego that helps her dig deep in tough competition.
During her stay, Sarault also visited her high school where about a month earlier students and staff at Bernice MacNaughton High School held a watch party for her attempt at a fifth Olympic medal in Italy.
She recalled one female student, passionate about music, sharing with Sarault that the latter’s accomplishments made the youngster feel she could make it big in the music industry outside Moncton.
“It has made everyone dream a little bit bigger, and that’s kind of what I’m here for,” Sarault said in an interview with CBC Sports’ Anastasia Bucsis. “I’m happy that this is the message I’m [sending] and inspiring people to [think] bigger and follow their dreams.”
Hundreds of New Brunswickers gathered in Moncton on Saturday to celebrate the short-track speed skater’s two silver medals and two bronze medals from Milano-Cortina.
Naïve in 2022 Olympic debut
In Milan, Sarault collected silver medals in the women’s 1,000 metres and mixed 2,000 relay while taking bronze in the women’s 500 and women’s 3,000 relay.
It was a much different story four years ago in her Olympic debut in Beijing, where Sarault’s top finish was fourth in the women’s 3,000 relay. She also raced the 2,000 relay (sixth) and was 11th in the women’s 1,000 and 1,500.
It was my worst competition, ever. … It happens to a lot of people [at their] first Olympics. … It kind of shaped me and started a new and improved Courtney.– Courtney Sarault on Olympic debut in 2022
Sarault had performed well during the 2021-22 season, including a silver-medal effort in the women’s 1,500 at a World Cup event in Dordrecht, Netherlands, but admitted to being naïve and certain she would medal.
“It went terribly,” Sarault said of the 2022 Olympics. “It was my worst competition, ever, [at] a time when you’re supposed to be [at your best]. It happens to a lot of people [at their] first Olympics. [People] say it’s a learning experience but not for me. I was delusional. It kind of shaped me and started a new and improved Courtney.
“If it wasn’t for that [experience] maybe I wouldn’t [have been] successful [in Milan] because I went through a lot of hard moments and a lot of things that made me re-evaluate myself, [question] if I was doing things right and what I needed to do to improve.
“I went through a hard time and that moment made me realize how bad I wanted [success],” continued Sarault. “I owed it to myself to get out of [that funk], be better and show [the talent] I have because I [had] so much more to give. But only you can decide if you want it or not.”
Instead of fighting through tough times on her own, Sarault reached out to a sports psychologist to talk about her insecurities and made many gains as a result.
Courtney Sarault of Moncton, N.B., won her first individual Olympic medal in the women’s 500-metre short track speed skating race, coming on late to claim the bronze medal. It’s Sarault’s second Olympic medal at Milano Cortina 2026, following on the heels of her silver medal in Tuesday’s mixed team relay.
9 World Tour medals
Following the Milano-Cortina Olympics, Sarault contributed to Canada’s silver medal in the mixed 2,000m relay at the world short-track championships in Montreal, having competed in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Last Nov. 30, she became the first Canadian woman to capture the overall title at the short track World Tour finale in Dordrecht. She skated to silver in the 1,500 before winning the 500, giving Sarault nine medals (five gold, three silver and bronze) across the four Tour stops.
The 12-time world championship medallist has thought about trying long track speed skating but pointed out she’ll remain a short tracker through the next Olympic cycle ahead of the 2030 Olympics in Nice and the French Alps.
For her second Games, Sarault was impressed how she carried herself amid big expectations in Milan Cortina.
“[It] was my redemption,” she said. “I didn’t want to allow anyone or anything to take that chance [of being] the best version of myself, so I did everything I could to make sure I was in the best form for these Games.
“It was like the last Games ran the show for me, and I ran the show [in Milan]. I felt [through] the [entire] Games I was in a good state of mind and enjoying racing, too.”
Courtney Sarault of Moncton, N.B., reflects after claiming silver in the women’s 1,000-metre final for her third medal at Milano Cortina 2026.
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