Short track icon Charles Hamelin has a chance for a golden end to his career in Montreal
CBC
This weekend's short track world championships have all the makings of a storybook ending for Canadian icon Charles Hamelin.
The 'Locomotive de Saint-Julie' is expected to hang up his skates following the 5,000-metre men's relay event at Montreal's Aréna Maurice-Richard. One final event on home ice gives Hamelin a chance to bow out with one more podium finish on the world championship stage.
You can watch competition from the short track worlds beginning on Saturday on the CBC Sports app, CBCSports.ca, and CBC Gem. You can also catch broadcast coverage on Road to the Olympic Games on Saturday and Sunday.
Hamelin will compete alongside teammates and fellow Beijing Olympic gold medallists Steven Dubois, Pascal Dion, Jordan Pierre-Gilles, and Maxime Laoun against Italy and the Netherlands in heat two of Saturday's semifinals in order to advance to Sunday's final.
The quintet accounts for five of the 10 skaters to represent Canada.
Olympic medallist Kim Boutin, Courtney Sarault, Alyson Charles, Florence Brunelle, and Danaé Blais will represent Canada on the women's side.
Despite being less than two months removed from the gold-medal victory at the Games, the 37-year-old Hamelin insists he's not only in a good place physically, but also wanted one last moment to cherish on home ice.
"I feel great. [Going to] focus on the relay and hopefully we'll come back with the gold medal like we did at the Olympics," Hamelin told CBC Sports. "I love what I do and that's the reason why I'm still here.
"I reached the podium in every single distance [in my career]. I wanted to [have] that moment at home."
WATCH | Hamelin discusses decision to end career:
Hamelin, of Sainte-Julie, Que., has won six Olympic medals (four gold, one silver, one bronze) over five Olympic appearances, 37 world championship medals (14 of which were gold), as well as 142 World Cup medals.
The six Olympic medals ties him with long track speed skating great Cindy Klassen for the most medals won by a Canadian Olympian at the Winter Games.
His world championship medal haul has him in sixth all time, with the standings being based on gold-medal victories, while possessing the most total medals of the group. His World Cup medal count has him in fifth, with Hamelin having the most total medals.
Needless to say, Hamelin's legacy as one of the greatest in his sport is safe and solidified.
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