Marianne St-Gelais (born February 17, 1990) is a Canadian former short track speed skater. She won two silver medals in the 500 m and 3,000 m relay at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, and a third silver in the 3,000 m relay at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Marianne St-Gelais
St-Gelais
Personal information
Born (1990-02-17) February 17, 1990 (age 34)
Roberval, Quebec, Canada
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Sport
Country Canada
SportShort track speed skating
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)500 m: 43.922 WR (2009)
1000 m: (2009)
1500 m: (2009)
3000 m: (2009)
Medal record
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver 3000 m relay
Silver medal – second place 2014 Sochi 3000 m relay
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Seoul 1500 m
Silver medal – second place 2010 Sofia 3000 m relay
Silver medal – second place 2013 Debrecen 3000 m
Silver medal – second place 2013 Debrecen 3000 m relay
Silver medal – second place 2014 Montreal 3000 m relay
Silver medal – second place 2016 Seoul Overall
Silver medal – second place 2016 Seoul 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2016 Seoul 3000 m relay
Silver medal – second place 2017 Rotterdam Overall
Silver medal – second place 2017 Rotterdam 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2017 Rotterdam 1000 m
Silver medal – second place 2017 Rotterdam 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Sofia 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Sheffield 3000 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Debrecen 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Montreal 3000 m relay
World Team Championships
Silver medal – second place 2010 Bormio Team
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Sherbrooke 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2009 Sherbrooke 3000 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Bolzano 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Bolzano 2000 m relay

Personal life

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St-Gelais, one of five siblings, began skating at the age of 10 when her neighbour encouraged her to join the local speed skating club.[1] Her younger sister Catherine, 15, and brother Bastien 13, still skate competitively.

Marianne calls Saint-Félicien, Quebec her hometown but currently resides in Montreal. In mid-2018, she broke up with her then-boyfriend, short track speed skater Charles Hamelin.[2] St-Gelais as well as boyfriend Hamelin made Hello Canada's 50 most beautiful Canadians list in 2010.[3]

Career

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As an accomplished junior skater, and world record holder, St-Gelais placed first overall at the 2007 Canada Games with four gold (500m, 1000m, 3000m and relay) and one silver medal (1500m). St-Gelais was named team Canada's "rising star" of 2009. Marianne St-Gelais is the 2009 world junior champion and world junior record holder in the 500 metres with a time of 43.922 seconds. St-Gelais won her first ever World Cup medal in 500m short track speed skating at Vancouver in 2009.

 
St-Gelais kisses then-boyfriend Hamelin, after he won his gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics

St-Gelais was a member of the Canadian team that attended the 2010 Winter Olympics in both the 500m and 3,000m relay.[4] Prior to these Olympic games she had yet to win any medals at an Olympics or world championships. On February 17, her 20th birthday, she won a silver medal in the 500 metres.[5][6] She followed this success with a silver medal on February 24, in the 3,000 metre relay, along with Jessica Gregg, Kalyna Roberge and Tania Vicent.[7] After the Olympics St-Gelais continued on her success at the Olympics with a bronze in the 500m at the 2010 World Championships as well as a silver in the 3,000m relay.[8] At the World Team Championships St-Gelais was a part of the Canadian squad that won silver in the event. This concluded what was the most successful season of her young career, with 2 Olympic silvers, 2 world championship silvers, and a worlds bronze.

St-Gelais ended the 2010–11 ISU World Cup season as the 500 m World Cup Champion.[9]

At the 2014 Winter Olympics she took a third Olympic medal as part of the Canadian team in the 3,000 m relay.[10]

2018 Winter Olympics

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In August 2017, St-Gelais was named to Canada's 2018 Winter Olympics team.[11][12] However she was unable to secure a medal there, being disqualified in the 500 m for interference. However, after the Games she competed in her eighth World Championships, where she secured a bronze medal. She retired from competition that year.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "St-Gelais racing towards 2010 Olympics". Canada.com. March 31, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  2. ^ "Olympic hopeful loves to go fast, on and off the ice". The Globe and Mail. December 24, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  3. ^ "Fresh faces make Hello Canada's most beautiful list". CTV. May 13, 2010. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  4. ^ cbc.ca Olympic Qualified
  5. ^ Lukas, Jennifer (February 17, 2010). "St-Gelais sees silver lining on her 20th birthday". CTV Olympics. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  6. ^ "Canada's Winter Games Medals". Sporting News. Archived from the original on February 20, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  7. ^ Lukas, Jennifer (February 24, 2010). "Canada takes silver in women's 3,000m relay". CTV Olympics. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  8. ^ "Medal haul continues at short track worlds". Sportsnet. March 20, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  9. ^ "Canada's St-Gelais wins 500 m World Cup title". CBC Sports. February 20, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  10. ^ a b Marandola, Sabrina (May 31, 2018). "Marianne St-Gelais 'taking it 1 day at a time' now that she's a retired athlete". CBC.ca. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  11. ^ Nichols, Paula (August 30, 2017). "10 short track speed skaters nominated to Team Canada for PyeongChang 2018". www.olympic.ca/. Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  12. ^ "Gold medallist Hamelin to lead Canada's 2018 short-track team". www.sportsnet.ca/. Sportsnet. August 30, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
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