2023-10-18 16:56:18
There is no stress… Félix Roussel shares his completely crazy journey in a calm and relaxed way. Better than anyone, however, he knows that he has come a long way.
“I never played hockey, my parents weren’t very keen on the idea of spending their weekends in arenas, but it definitely didn’t work out because I chose another sport on skates”, underlines the young Sherbrooke resident, with humor.
He thought about hanging up his skates not so long ago. However, his perseverance and resilience ultimately paid off.
• Read also: Florence Brunelle found her smile again on the sidelines of the Montreal World Cup
Just last year, Roussel served as a training partner for the girls on the Canadian short track speed skating team. Since then, he has made his own place in the men’s team.
At 22, Roussel will have taken a winding path, which leads him to even more savor his presence on the ice rink at the Maurice-Richard arena this weekend, as part of the first installment of the season of the World Cup. His family and friends will be there to encourage him.
“It was difficult because, in March 2022, I suffered a concussion, which prevented me from being on the national team,” he summarizes. I just didn’t have the opportunity to qualify. At that time, I didn’t know if I was going to have to stop speed skating.”
An unexpected phone call
While he was thinking about his future, Roussel received an unexpected call to help the girls in training.
“My job was to pull tricks in front of the girls in order to help them improve,” he describes, immediately paying tribute to his fellow Sherbrooke resident Kim Boutin, who helped breathe new life into his career. Kim really supported me, she told me we were going to have fun and work hard together.
“Skating with a role model like her, it helped improve my work ethic and it also helped me with my races. It’s an experience that I don’t regret in any way… Even though I trained with the girls, I managed to make my place on the guys’ team and that’s where my international journey began. »
Famous overtaking
To the surprise of many, Roussel first stood out at the Canadian Championships, in Quebec, in October 2022. Thanks to an overtake on the last lap, he took third position in the final 1000 meter event to ensure his place with the men’s national team.
“I really came out of the shadows last year,” he said. Before that, I was always a little bit under the radar because of COVID and everything else… I was always close to making Worlds as a junior, but I was always the backup or the go-to guy. After.”
Martin Chevalier / JdeM
Roussel continued to flourish in extraordinary fashion, even managing to win an individual medal on the World Cup circuit last February in Dresden, Germany. Only the South Korean Park Ji-won and the Latvian Roberts Kruzbergs then beat him in the 1000m final, which gave him bronze.
“To win an individual medal when I was just a rookie, I didn’t expect it,” he admits. For me, it was a dream and it just makes me even more motivated for my second year. I want to get back on the podium and show that I can do even better.”
A neglected role
Although he shows humility in front of the other members of the national team, namely Steven Dubois, Pascal Dion, Maxime Laoun and William Dandjinou, Roussel does not suffer from an inferiority complex.
“Like everyone, I want to win,” he said. I got a little taste of it last year with a first individual medal. I still have the role of underdog and I don’t pretend to compare myself to Olympic champions, but we each have our strengths and I am also capable of making finals.
“Félix is one of those athletes who can shine on the international scene,” says coach Sébastien Cros. This is a bit of the philosophy that we wanted to put in place in recent years. You have to enter races by being daring, you have to try things, go there to win, even if it means failing. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but at least you develop that mentality. Félix is 100% in this.”
In Montreal, Roussel is mainly banking on the 500 meter event to stand out this weekend in addition to the relays. He will also compete in the 1500m which, he admits, is not his favorite distance. After a second World Cup played at the Maurice-Richard Arena, from October 27 to 29, the young man will also take part, in December, in competitions planned in China and South Korea.
1697648853
#Short #track #speed #skating #crazy #rise #Félix #Roussel