Short track legend Charles Hamelin helps Canada win relay bronze at worlds in final race of career

Canadian short-track speedskater Pascal Dion won his first world championship gold medal and his decorated teammate Charles Hamelin capped his career with a relay bronze.

Montreal's Dion won the men's 3,000 metres on home ice at Maurice Richard Arena and then helped Hamelin and Canada take bronze in the 5,000-metre relay.

The relay was Hamelin's swan song and his 38th world championship medal, of which 15 were gold.

"It is one of the best things that happened to me," Hamelin said in a statement. "The chance to finish at home, with my family in the stands, is the greatest feeling. It is almost like any Olympics I went to."

WATCH | Canada claims relay bronze in final race of Hamelin's career:

Canada wins 5000m relay bronze in final race of Charles Hamelin's career

3 years ago

Duration 13:07

Charles Hamelin closed his speed skating career with a third place finish alongside teammates Pascal Dion, Steven Dubois and Jordan Pierre-Gilles at the short track world championships.

The 37-year-old from Sainte-Julie, Que., had a storybook ending to his Olympic career when he, Dion, Steven Dubois and Jordan Pierre-Gilles won relay gold in Beijing in February.

Hamelin's sixth medal, and fourth gold of his career, is the most by a Canadian male in Winter Games. He and hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin jointly carried Canada's flag into Beijing's opening ceremonies.

WATCH | Hamelin says final race was 'one of the most emotional moments of my life':

Charles Hamelin says final race was 'one of the most emotional moments of my life'

3 years ago

Duration 2:12

Canadian short track speed skating great Charles Hamelin discusses his career after closing with a bronze medal at the world championships.

Dion edged June Seo Lee of South Korea in second and Dutchman Sjinkie Knegt in third in the 3k. It was the first world title for Dion after he took silver in Saturday's 1,500 metres.

Boutin also took silver in Saturday's 500 and 1,500 metres. The 27-year-old finished second to winner Minjeong Choi of South Korea in both individual distances Sunday.

"I am pretty happy. The year was pretty strong for me. So to stay that way and get the second place just gives me the little 'ehhh' to push for the win next time," Boutin added in another statement.

WATCH | Dion captures gold in men's 3,000m:

Pascal Dion ends up on top in 3000m at short track worlds

3 years ago

Duration 7:30

The Canadian claimed a narrow victory at the world championships in Montreal on Sunday.

Choi picked up another gold when the South Koreans won the relay ahead of Canada's Boutin, Florence Brunelle, Alyson Charles and Courtney Sarault.

The International Skating Union postponed the world short track championship originally scheduled for March 18-20 in Montreal because of both COVID-19 travel restrictions and the war in Ukraine.

The ISU barred athletes from Russia and Belarus from competing in Montreal because of those countries' roles in the invasion of Ukraine.

WATCH | Canadian women's relay team had 'the race of our lives':

Canadian relay team had 'the race of our lives'

3 years ago

Duration 2:08

Kim Boutin, Florence Brunelle, Alyson Charles and Courtney Sarault talk about their bronze medal at the short track world championships.