Speed skater Courtney Sarault looks to make her mark in first Olympics appearance

Courtney Sarault only just made her Olympic debut and will already have two chances to claim a medal for Canada

Sarault is competing in the Women’s 1000m quarter-final on Friday followed by the finals later in the morning before the 3000m Mixed Relay Final where she’ll be competing alongside Florence Brunelle, Kim Boutin, and Alyson Charles.

The speed skater spoke with CityNews ahead of her trip to the Beijing Olympics, saying it had been an emotional rollercoaster heading into the games.

“It’s been hard because we have been trying to escape COVID, dodge it left and right because if you test positive you can’t go to the games, so like my body waking up at 7 a.m., no alarm,” Sarault says. “I’m stressed a bit because of all the little things.”

Courtney Sarault, who grew up in New Brunswick but now calls Montreal home, is competing in Short Track Speed Skating where they can reach speeds up to 50 km/h.

“It’s a really risky sport. There are a lot of things where accidents happen, people’s legs getting cut and crazy things in our sport,” she tells CityNews. “Other than that, it’s really fun. You get a big adrenaline rush, so I don’t think you realize how dangerous it is when you are in the moment for me. I am a little crazy so, for me, I’m just going to whip around the corner and hope for the best honestly.”

The 21-year old made her World Cup debut just a few years ago and is still coming to terms with the fact she will forever be known as an Olympian.

“I think it only hit me when it was announced officially and like everyone like flooded me with congratulations,” explained Sarault. “I was like, ‘Ok, this is real. It’s not just a dream.'”

Athletic greatness runs deep in her family. Her brother is a hockey player, her mother was very athletic and her dad is former NHL player Yves Sarault — a 3rd round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 1991.

She said watching them growing up inspired her that her dreams were possible as well.

“I was always watching my dad. He was professional and his dream came true so for me, it was like mine will come true then too, it’s just normal,” said Sarault. “Everyone in my family is hardworking so I knew that if I worked hard and made a few sacrifices, it’s possible for the dream to come true.”

Sarault will compete in the Women’s 1000m quarterfinal on Friday morning at 6 a.m. E.T. and in the Women’s 3000m mixed relay final on Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. E.T.