Vincent De Haître

Other information

TRAINING SOLO IN 2023 Ahead of the 2023/24 season he trained away from the Canadian national team in Alberta, Canada, where he received feedback from former national team coaches who were running a youth development programme. He went on to secure a place on the Canadian team for the first World Cup events of the season through his performance at the 2023 Canadian Championships. "It was difficult because we finished the [2022/23] season and there was zero communication from the national team coaches for a month and a half. Finally after four weeks, I told myself I needed to start planning something. The first time I met the national team coaches, I was told something like, 'You deserve your own training programme'. It was a bit like that. I wrote my training sessions and benefited from the technical feedback from former national coaches. The experience was positive and enriching. In addition to finding training partners I also played a mentoring role with the young people." (onfr.tfo.org, 01 Nov 2023; speedskating.ca, 29 Oct 2023) SUMMER AND WINTER OLYMPIAN He represented Canada in speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games in 2014 and 2018. Following the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, he decided to take a break from speed skating to focus on track cycling ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games. After placing fifth in team pursuit at the Tokyo Games, he began training for speed skating again with the aim of qualifying for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. He was affected by injury in the lead-up to Beijing 2022 and did not compete at the Games. "I've always loved riding my bike. It's just that I haven't seen the same trajectory [as speed skating]. If I was to pick the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my career it would be getting back to speed skating after three-and-a-half years of cycling. The ultimate goal is to perform at the winter Olympics in 2026 in Italy. Tokyo was good for me overall, but it hurt my pure [speed skating] results. It's not fun to lose [speed skating] races that you are used to winning in the past." (ledroit.com, 08 Nov 2022; journaldequebec.com, 12 Oct 2022; olympics.com, 07 Oct 2021; isu.org, 05 Aug 2021; tokyo2020.org, 21 Aug 2020; ici.radio-canada.ca, 23 Aug 2018)

When and where did you begin this sport?	He took up the sport in 1999 at the Gloucester Concordes club in Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Club / Team	Gloucester Concordes: Ottawa, ON, CAN

Memorable sporting achievement	Competing at both the winter and summer editions of the Olympic Games. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Other sports	He has competed in track cycling and was part of the Canadian squad that placed fifth in team pursuit at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (SportsDeskOnline, 02 Nov 2021; tokyo2020.org, 21 Aug 2020)
Injuries	Niggling injuries to his back, knees, and hips contributed to his inability to qualify for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (ledroit.com, 08 Nov 2022; journaldequebec.com, 12 Oct 2022) He injured his heel ahead of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, but was still able to take part in the Games. (olympic.ca, 01 Feb 2020; ici.radio-canada.ca, 23 Aug 2018) He broke his collarbone in July 2012. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2013)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"You can't lose if you don't give up." (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)

www.facebook.com/vincent.dehaitre

Hobbies	Playing Formula One simulation video games, skiing, camping, cycling, two-way radios. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Nicknames	Quadzilla ["I had bigger legs than all my teammates"]. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023; sportsottawa.com, 26 Aug 2020)

vincentdehaitre.com/

Reason for choosing this sport

He loved skating fast and was introduced to speed skating by a family friend.

Ambitions	To win gold at the world championships and the Olympic Winter Games. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023; ledroit.com, 08 Nov 2022; journaldequebec.com, 12 Oct 2022)
Most influential person in career	His parents. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Awards and honours	He was named the 2017 Long Track Male Athlete of the Year by Speed Skating Canada. (speedskating.ca, 12 Jun 2017) In 2015, 2016, and 2017 he was named Male Athlete of the Year in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (sportsottawa.com, 26 Aug 2020; ottawasportsawards.ca, 2017; ottawacitizen.com, 29 Jan 2015) He was named the 2013/14 Long Track Rising Star of the Year by Speed Skating Canada. (speedskating.ca, 17 Mar 2017)

twitter.com/Vince_DeHaitre