Vincent De Haître

Other information

PRIORITY FOR PARIS, MILAN-CORTINA CYCLE He failed to qualify for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games partly as a result of competing in track cycling at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. His priority over the next summer and winter Olympic cycles is to qualify for the 2026 Games in Milan-Cortina, although he may pursue a spot on the track cycling team for Paris 2024 if he performs well in speed skating in 2023. "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. If I get good results at the [speed skating] world championships in the Netherlands in March [2023] after a year and a half of preparation, I will go to the summer Games in Paris in 2024 [for cycling], otherwise I will not repeat the same mistake twice. 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 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) TOKYO AND BEIJING DREAM UNFULFILLED 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, but he was part of the Canada squad during the 2021/22 World Cup season. "In training last year [2021] I couldn't run, jump or do proper starts. 70% of activities [in training] I was unable to do. After working hard to heal my back I am now [October 2022] back to 100%. I've always loved riding my bike. It's just that I haven't seen the same trajectory [as speed skating]. If I'm in speed skating, I've been in it for so long that I know what each step brings to the next one, because I know how the national team functions. But because I'm so in and out of cycling, I don't have such a clear picture. I feel more at home in speed skating, but that doesn't mean I feel any less passionate about cycling." (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)

Name of coach

Bart Schouten [national], NED; William Dutton [national], CAN

Other sports	He competes 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. If his performances in speed skating in 2023 go well, he also hopes to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in track cycling. (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