Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulates Canadian Men’s Short Track Speed skating 5,000-metre relay Team on Olympic Gold Medal Win

February 26, 2010

VANCOUVER – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today congratulated the Canadian men’s short track speed skating 5,000-metre relay team.  An exceptional performance today was rewarded with a gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“A podium finish at the Olympics requires year of discipline, focus and resolve,” said the Prime Minister.  “Canadians were thrilled to see this team’s hard work and dedication to speed skating culminate in another gold medal.”

Guillaume Bastille was born in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, and currently resides in Montreal.  This is his first medal in his first Olympic Games.  He won silver medals in both the 1,000 metres and the relay at the 2009 World University Games in China and has won eight World Cup medals.  He is the 2009 Recipient of Speed Skating Canada’s Peter Williamson Bursary, which recognizes both athletic and academic excellence.
 
Charles Hamelin was born in Lévis, Quebec, and lives in Montreal.  This is his third medal in his second Olympic Games, having won a gold medal in the Men’s 500-metre short track speed skating earlier today and winning silver in Turin.  He has competed in six World Championships, capturing eight individual and four relay medals and has been part of two World Team titles in 2005 and 2007.  He was named Speed Skating Canada’s Male Skater of the Year for Short Track in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009.  He set the world record for 1,000 metres in 2009.
 
François Hamelin was born in Lévis, Quebec, and also lives in Montreal.  This is his first medal in his first Olympic Games.  He won a silver medal at the 2008 World Championships and is the winner of 14 World Cup medals.  He was part of Canada’s silver medal team at the 2008 and 2009 Team World Championships and was the overall 2008 Canadian Champion.
 
Olivier Jean was born in Lachenaie, Quebec, and currently resides in Montreal.  This is his first medal in his first Olympic Games.  He has earned two medals in two World Championships and has been part of two medal-winning teams at the Team World Championships.  He received Speed Skating Canada’s Rising Star Award for Short Track in 2007.
 
The 2010 Olympic Winter Games are being held from February 12 to 28.  Canada is being represented by more than 200 athletes who are competing in a 15-sport competition schedule at nine venues in Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler.  More than 5,500 athletes, coaches and team officials from more than 80 countries are participating in these Olympic Games.