1. Overview
Marianne St-Gelais (born February 17, 1990) is a Canadian former short track speed skater. She is from Roberval, Quebec, and currently resides in Montreal. She is a highly decorated Canadian short track speed skater, known for her success at both junior and senior international competitions. Throughout her career, she earned three Olympic silver medals, multiple World Championship medals including a gold, and set a junior world record. Her achievements cemented her status as a prominent figure in Canadian speed skating before her retirement in 2018.
2. Personal Life
Marianne St-Gelais's personal life is rooted in Quebec, where she began her journey in speed skating.
2.1. Early Life and Skating Entry
St-Gelais was born on February 17, 1990. She is one of five siblings. Her introduction to speed skating came at the age of 10, when a neighbor encouraged her to join a local speed skating club. Her younger sister, Catherine, and brother, Bastien, continued to skate competitively as of 2009.
2.2. Personal Relationships and Hometown
While St-Gelais considers Saint-Félicien, Quebec her hometown, she currently resides and trains in Montreal. In 2010, St-Gelais, along with her then-boyfriend, fellow short track speed skater Charles Hamelin, were featured on Hello Canada's list of the 50 most beautiful Canadians. The couple later separated in mid-2018.
3. Career
Marianne St-Gelais's career in short track speed skating spanned from her impressive junior achievements to her multiple medal-winning performances at the Olympic Games and World Championships.
3.1. Junior Career
St-Gelais demonstrated significant talent early in her career. At the 2007 Canada Games, she achieved an outstanding performance, securing four gold medals in the 500 metres, 1000 metres, 3000 metres, and relay events, in addition to a silver medal in the 1500 metres. Her potential was recognized when she was named Team Canada's "rising star" in 2009.
She became the 2009 World Junior Champion in the 500 metres, where she also set a world junior record with a time of 43.922 seconds. Prior to this, at the 2008 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Bolzano, she earned two bronze medals in the 500 metres and the 2000 metre relay. At the 2009 World Junior Championships in Sherbrooke, in addition to her 500 metres gold, she won a silver medal in the 3000 metre relay.
3.2. World Cup and World Championships
St-Gelais earned her first World Cup medal in the 500 metres event in Vancouver in 2009. She continued her strong performance, ending the 2010-11 ISU World Cup season as the 500 metres World Cup Champion.
Her success extended to the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships. At the 2010 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Sofia, she secured a bronze medal in the 500 metres and a silver medal in the 3000 metre relay. The same year, she was part of the Canadian squad that won a silver medal at the 2010 World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships in Bormio.
At the 2011 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Sheffield, St-Gelais contributed to a bronze medal in the 3000 metre relay. The 2013 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Debrecen saw her win a silver medal in the 3000 metres, a bronze in the 1500 metres, and another silver in the 3000 metre relay. She continued her relay success at the 2014 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Montreal, earning a silver medal in the 3000 metre relay.
The 2016 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul marked a significant achievement for St-Gelais, where she won a gold medal in the 1500 metres. She also claimed three silver medals at this event: in the overall classification, the 500 metres, and the 3000 metre relay. Her strong performance continued at the 2017 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Rotterdam, where she earned silver medals in the overall classification, 500 metres, 1000 metres, and 1500 metres. In her final World Championships appearance at the 2018 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Montreal, she secured a bronze medal in the 3000 metre relay.
3.3. Olympic Games
Marianne St-Gelais participated in three Winter Olympics, consistently earning medals in the relay events and achieving individual success.
3.3.1. 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics
St-Gelais was a member of the Canadian team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, competing in both the 500 metres and 3000 metre relay events. On February 17, 2010, which was her 20th birthday, she won her first Olympic medal, a silver, in the 500 metres event, finishing behind Wang Meng of China. She followed this success with a second silver medal on February 24, in the 3000 metre relay, competing alongside teammates Jessica Gregg, Kalyna Roberge, and Tania Vicent.
3.3.2. 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics
At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, St-Gelais earned her third Olympic medal. She was part of the Canadian team that secured a silver medal in the 3000 metre relay event.
3.3.3. 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics
In August 2017, St-Gelais was officially named to Canada's team for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Despite her prior Olympic successes, she was unable to secure a medal at these Games. In the 500 metres event, she was disqualified for interference.
3.4. Retirement
Following the conclusion of the 2018 season, which included her participation in the Pyeongchang Olympics and the World Championships in Montreal, Marianne St-Gelais made the decision to retire from competitive speed skating.