In his first season at the helm of the Canadian short track speed skating team, three-time Olympian Marc Gagnon wanted to create better synergy between all the skaters. The results prove him right.
Assistant for several years now, Gagnon could not have asked for better results for his baptism as head coach. “There were a lot of changes, but the skaters reacted well,” he said. I brought a new vision and everyone responded well. We will have to see if I will say the same things in ten years.”
In an individual sport where there are three team events, Gagnon wanted to create better cohesion within the group. “Last year, it was visible that there was no cohesion in the mixed relay,” he stressed. I wanted to tackle this aspect. As for the chemistry of the whole group, it wasn’t terrible, but there was no doubt that it could improve. Cohesion must go beyond the small friendships that exist outside the ice.
Canada had an excellent first half of the season. William Dandjinou is on fire and he is in an excellent position to win the Crystal Globe with only two stages left on the calendar. Same thing for the men’s 5000m relay. The women’s 3000m relay is also having a good season with two gold medals in Asia.
“Because the physical development was already well done, the better cohesion does not 100 percent explain the good results,” admitted Gagnon, “but we sometimes tend to forget that there are three team events in our sport which is individual. This team cohesion was beneficial for me as an athlete and I wanted to bring this facet to the group. Cohesion and teamwork are very important.”
Dandjinou notes the changes made by Gagnon. “The collective is better as is the chemistry between the men and women,” he said. Marc is a great unifier. This is its great strength. On the world circuit, he talks about the Canadian delegation. On a daily basis, the change of head coach does not change much because I continue to work with Sébastien (Cros). I’m equally comfortable with one or the other.”
A positive environment
Gagnon gives an example of the advantages of evolving in a positive environment where everyone sticks together. “Jordan (Pierre-Gilles) had a decent World Cup without more in China,” he underlined. Human being what he is, he could have felt sorry for himself. In a positive context, however, he came back strong and won silver in the 500m in Korea. There was a somewhat strange disqualification in the 1000m otherwise he would have also reached the A final.
“Jordan had personal work to do,” added Gagnon, “but this work is easier in a positive environment.”
Returning from Asia on Monday, Canadian skaters will take advantage of five days off during the holidays before returning to training. The selections for the last two stages of the world circuit will take place from January 24 to 26 in Montreal. The world championship will take place in China this year.
