New Brunswick's speed skating success story is a testament to the power of dreams and dedication. Despite being one of Canada's smallest provinces, New Brunswick has produced a remarkable trio of athletes who are competing in short track speed skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. Among them is Courtney Sarault, who became the first Canadian from outside Quebec to win an individual short track speed skating medal. Her resilience and determination, coupled with the support of a high-performance hub in Fredericton, have inspired a new generation of athletes in the province.
Sarault's journey began when she joined the high-performance group in Fredericton at the age of 13. She made a three-hour round trip from Moncton five days a week to train with the best in the province. Her coach, Derrick MacLeod, recognized her resilience and grit from the start. Despite not showing the most talent when he was younger, Brendan Corey also trained with the group and is now competing for Australia. The province has produced several younger skaters, including Courtney Charlong, who won gold and bronze at the world junior short track championships.
New Brunswick's success in speed skating is a result of a combination of factors. The province has three Olympic-sized ice surfaces, seven speed skating clubs, and about 600 skaters, coaches, and officials. The high-performance program is on a hiatus until there's another group of about a dozen skaters to train together and push each other. MacLeod believes it's coming, pointing to registration numbers that have doubled over the last four years.
The success of Sarault, Doak, Corey, and Charlong could push the province to even greater heights in the sport. Their achievements have inspired future generations of athletes in New Brunswick, and the province's skaters have a unique style that involves pulling out fast in a race or taking risks to push their way to the front. As MacLeod said, 'They all have that in them.' The next great New Brunswick speed skating athlete may not know about the sport yet, but their story is a testament to the power of dreams and dedication.
