1. Life and Career
Alexis Contin's professional journey in speed skating began with his international debut in the mid-2000s, leading to participation in major championships and setting national records. After a brief hiatus, he returned to the sport to achieve his most notable successes.
1.1. Early Career and Debut
Born on October 19, 1986, in Saint-Malo, France, Alexis Contin stands at 6.0 ft (1.82 m) tall and weighs 159 lb (72 kg). He made his initial mark in international speed skating in December 2005 with his debut at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup. His first participation in an international all-around tournament followed in January 2007, where he competed at the European Championships held in Collalbo, finishing in 17th place overall.
1.2. Temporary Retirement and Return
In January 2008, reports in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf indicated that Contin had decided to retire from skating. He cited a feeling that he could not fully focus on longtrack skating as his reason for stepping away from the sport. However, Alexis Contin made a return to competitive skating during the 2008-09 season. Prior to his full return to longtrack events, he competed in the Dutch marathon circuit. His comeback to the longtrack scene was marked by his participation in the 2009 European Allround Championships at Heerenveen.
1.3. Major Competition Achievements
Alexis Contin has a distinguished record of achievements in major international competitions. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, he demonstrated his strong endurance by finishing fourth in the men's 10,000 metres and sixth in the 5000 metres events. His career also saw him secure three medals at the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships. He earned his first bronze in the mass start event at the 2015 championships held in Heerenveen. He followed this with another bronze medal in the mass start at the 2016 championships in Kolomna. His most recent World Championship medal was a silver in the mass start at the 2017 championships in Gangneung.
1.4. French National Records
Throughout his career, Alexis Contin has been a prominent figure in French speed skating, holding multiple French national records in long-distance events. He is the current holder of the French national records for both the 3000 metres and 5000 metres distances. Additionally, Contin held the French record for the 10000 metres distance for a period of almost ten years. This record was eventually surpassed by Timothy Loubineaud in 2020.
2. Personal Bests
The following table details Alexis Contin's personal best times in various speed skating distances, along with the dates and locations where these achievements occurred.
| Distance | Time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 m | 36.57 | 7 March 2015 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | |
| 1000 m | 1:10.25 | 19 January 2013 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | |
| 1500 m | 1:44.00 | 15 November 2013 | Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City | |
| 3000 m | 3:40.11 | 25 September 2010 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | Current French record. |
| 5000 m | 6:11.95 | 10 November 2013 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | Current French record. |
| 10000 m | 13:04.80 | 8 March 2015 | Olympic Oval, Calgary | French record until beaten by Timothy Loubineaud on 14 February 2020. |