Cedrick Brunet

Other information

DISAPPOINTMENTS FORGE MATURITY He emerged as a potential 2022 Olympic candidate after finishing third in the 500m event at the Canadian national championships in October 2021, where his time was .07 seconds off the Olympic standard set by Speed Skating Canada. He hoped to improve at the Canadian Olympic trials in December that year but the event was cancelled due to COVID-19. "It was difficult mentally, I wanted the opportunity to prove that I could make it [on the Olympic team]. But, I have to tell myself that next time [2026] will be the right time." He initially secured a place on Canada's World Cup squad for 2021/22, but his veteran teammate Alex Boisvert-Lacroix contested Brunet's selection at the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada [SDRCC] on the grounds that he had already achieved the standard at previous events despite finishing behind Brunet at the national championships. The appeal was successful, and Brunet was told two days before he was due to depart for Europe that Boisvert-Lacroix would be taking his place on the team. "When I found out, I was angry. But I told myself everything happens for a reason, I'm only 21 and have my whole future ahead of me, so let's move on to the next opportunity." Brunet was ultimately given the chance to make his World Cup debut in December 2021 in Calgary, AB, Canada. "I have learnt a lot [in the 2021/22 season] for a youngster who has only just started for real in this sport." (ledroit.com, 26 Feb 2022; lapresse.ca, 09 Dec 2021)

www.facebook.com/ced.brunet

Club / Team

CPV Levis: Canada

Hobbies	Ice hockey, baseball, surfing. (Instagram profile, 07 Nov 2022; speedskating.ca, 01 Jan 2022)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs	He likes to go for a walk before competing. (speedskating.ca, 01 Jan 2022)
Famous relatives	His younger brother Frederic Brunet is an ice hockey player and was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round [132nd overall pick] of the 2022 NHL Draft. His father, Michel Brunet, competed in figure skating [ice dancing] at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. His mother, Brigitte Gauthier, has worked as a physiotherapist for the Canadian freestyle skiing team at the Olympic Winter Games. His uncle [Brigitte's brother], Dominick Gauthier, competed in freestyle skiing for Canada at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games. His aunt [Dominick's wife], Jennifer Heil, also represented Canada in freestyle skiing, winning a gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Nov 2022; nhl.com, 08 Jul 2022; ledroit.com, 26 Feb 2022; ottawasun.com, 23 Feb 2019; thecanadian.news, 20 Jun 2022; cbc.ca, 22 Feb 2018)

Reason for choosing this sport

He was inspired by watching the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Hero / Idol	Canadian speed skater Laurent Dubreuil. (speedskating.ca, 01 Jan 2022)
Ambitions	To compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (ici.radio-canada.ca, 25 Nov 2021)

Name of coach	Gregor Jelonek, CAN
Training Regime	He trains at the Centre de Glaces [Ice Centre] in Quebec City, QC, Canada.
When and where did you begin this sport?	He began the sport in 2010, taking part in both short track and speed skating. He also played ice hockey, before focusing solely on speed skating from 2018/19 onwards. "I'm sure I made the right choice between the three sports, even if my dream as a child was to play hockey in the NHL for Montreal. Instead, I will watch my brother realise this dream."

Nicknames

Ced (Facebook profile, 24 Jun 2018)