Marianne St-Gelais

Marianne St-Gelais

File:2010 Medals in 500 metres short track-Marianne St-Gelais.jpg
Personal information
Born	(1990-02-17) February 17, 1990 Roberval, Quebec
Height
Sport
Country	Canada
Sport	Speed skating
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	500 m: 43.922 WR (2009) 1000 m: (2009) 1500 m: (2009) 3000 m: (2009)
Medal record Women’s short track speed skating Representing Canada Olympic Games 2010 Vancouver 500 m 2010 Vancouver 3000 m relay 2014 Sochi 3000 m relay World Championships 2010 Sofia 3000 m relay 2013 Debrecen 3000 m 2013 Debrecen 3000 m relay 2010 Sofia 500 m 2011 Sheffield 3000 m relay 2013 Debrecen 1500 m World Team Championships 2010 Bormio Team World Junior Championships 2009 Sherbrooke 500 m 2009 Sherbrooke 3000 m relay 2008 Bolzano 500 m 2008 Bolzano 2000 m relay

Marianne St-Gelais (born February 17, 1990) is a Canadian short track speed skater. She won two silver medals in the 500 m and 3,000 m events at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Personal life

St-Gelais, one of five siblings, began skating at the age of 10 when her neighbour encouraged her to join the local speed skating club. Her younger sister Catherine, 15, and brother Bastien 13, still skate competitively.

Marianne calls Saint-Félicien, Quebec her hometown but currently resides in Montreal with boyfriend and fellow short track team member Charles Hamelin. St-Gelais as well as boyfriend Hamelin made Hello Canada's 50 most beautiful Canadians list in 2010.

Career

As an accomplished junior skater, and world record holder, St-Gelais placed first overall at the 2007 Canada Games with four gold (500m, 1000m, 3000m and relay) and one silver medal (1500m). St-Gelais was named team Canada's "rising star" of 2009. Marianne St-Gelais is the 2009 world junior champion and world junior record holder in the 500 metres with a time of 43.922 seconds. St-Gelais won her first ever World Cup medal in 500m short track speed skating at Vancouver in 2009.

File:HamelinSt-Gelais.png

St-Gelais kisses boyfriend Hamelin, after he won his gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics

St-Gelais was a member of the Canadian team that attended the 2010 Winter Olympics in both the 500m and 3,000m relay. Prior to these Olympic games she had yet to win any medals at an Olympics or world championships. On February 17, her 20th birthday, she won a silver medal in the 500 metres. She followed this success with a silver medal on February 24, in the 3,000 metre relay, along with Jessica Gregg, Kalyna Roberge and Tania Vicent. After the Olympics St-Gelais continued on her success at the Olympics with a bronze in the 500m at the 2010 World Championships as well as a silver in the 3,000m relay. At the World Team Championships St-Gelais was a part of the Canadian squad that won silver in the event. This concluded what was the most successful season of her young career, with 2 Olympic silvers, 2 world championship silvers, and a world's bronze.

St-Gelais ended the 2010–11 ISU World Cup season as the 500 m World Cup Champion.

External links

• Profile of Marianne St-Gelais by Speed Skating Canada