BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Fresh off a historic six-gold, four-silver medal haul at the 2025 ISU World Short Track Championships in Beijing, Canada's head coach Marc Gagnon is eyeing more success at next year's Winter Olympics.
Despite the potential for winning multiple medals, Canada dominating the Beijing worlds still goes "a little over" Gagnon's expectations, as it swept all team and men's individual titles, after amassing 8,731 points across six World Tour events this season, nearly 2,000 points clear of rivals like the Netherlands.
"I'm very happy because we've had a really good year during the World Tour," said Gagnon, Canada's most decorated male Olympian with three gold medals. "But the last two World Tour events, we were struggling a little more than usual."
"This weekend, we needed to get back on track as preparation for the Olympic Games. Winning at the World Championships is different - it's about becoming a world champion, just like at the Olympics."
Canada's relay dominance came as a surprise even for Gagnon. "We didn't expect to lead China and South Korea by that margin. Their collision helped us create the gap. Otherwise, it would've been a three-country race."
"Our selection process in Canada is really hard on the skaters because we do a lot of races to select them," Gagnon acknowledged the challenges of maintaining momentum across a grueling season.
"Between the World Tour and keeping them ready, we needed to do mental work to bring them back this weekend," he said. "The big work was keeping them mentally prepared, happy and fit. Physically, we had no doubt. They were ready."
Asked about training strategies, Gagnon downplayed any secrets. "It's just training, but not forgetting that there's a body and a mind. Every skater is human, and we need to take care of that."
As the 2024/25 season comes to an end, Gagnon plans a break of two to three weeks for his team before getting back to training in mid-April. "We don't have much time to lose."
Looking to Milan-Cortina 2026, Gagnon tempered expectations. "Stress at the Games is always higher. If we can do two-thirds of what we did this weekend, I'd be happy," he admitted.
Canada clinched six medals including two golds in short track at Salt Lake City 2002 where Gagnon competed. Now, the 49-year-old is setting his sights higher.
"We're aiming for at least seven, hopefully eight," he said. ■
