Ivanie Blondin

www.facebook.com/IvanieBlondin/
twitter.com/ivanieb

Training Regime	She trains at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, AB, Canada.
Reason for choosing this sport	She initially competed in figure skating but says she was not graceful enough and enjoyed skating fast, so she switched to speed skating. She then took up short track, before moving on to speed skating in 2010 after suffering five concussions over a three-year period in short track.
Name of coach	Bart Schouten [national], NED
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began skating in her backyard at age two, and first tried short track at age seven in Ottawa, ON, Canada. She switched to speed skating at age 20.
Club / Team	Gloucester Concordes: Ottawa, ON, CAN

Famous relatives	Her husband Konrad Nagy represented Hungary in speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games in 2014 and 2018. (calgarysun.com, 16 Oct 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 03 Jan 2020; Facebook profile, 07 Dec 2019)
Hobbies	Fostering dogs, spending time outdoors, camping, canoeing, water skiing, fishing, playing the piano and guitar, snowboarding, drawing, cycling. (cbc.ca, 22 Sep 2020; schaatsen.nl, 15 Mar 2020)
Awards and honours	She received the Catriona Le May Doan Award from Speed Skating Canada in four consecutive years between 2015 and 2018, and then again in 2020 and 2021. The honour recognises the Canadian long track female athlete of the year. (ontariospeedskating.ca, 07 Sep 2021; speedskating.ca, 04 Sep 2020) She has twice received the Kristina Groves Female Athlete of the Year Trophy at the Ottawa Sports Awards Dinner in Ontario, Canada. (ottawasportspages.ca, 26 Jan 2022)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"It's not about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." (olympic.ca, 28 Feb 2022)
Other sports	In addition to competing in speed skating, she has participated in several short track world junior championships, winning a silver medal in the 3000m relay in 2009. She also competed in national junior cycling track events in 2007. (SportsDeskOnline, 28 Nov 2013; cyclingarchives.com, 05 Jan 2012)
Most influential person in career	Hungarian speed skater [and her husband] Konrad Nagy. (Athlete, 18 Nov 2018)
Injuries	A virus caused her to withdraw from the 1000m and 3000m races at the 2016 World Cup event in Nagano, Japan. She was able to compete in the mass start later in the tournament, finishing second. (cbc.ca, 20 Nov 2016) She had tendinitis in her left knee in 2012. (Athlete, 03 Dec 2015) In 2011 she injured her knee and had glandular fever. (ottawacitizen.com, 04 Nov 2012) During her short track career, she suffered five concussions over a period of three years. (Athlete, 27 Jan 2017)
Other information	CANINE THERAPY She experienced migraines and struggled to sleep after returning home from the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang without a medal. She then began fostering dogs, which helped her to recover her confidence and continue competing in the sport. "After the 2018 Games I found myself in a state of depression. I began my recovery by filling the house with foster dogs specialising on some hard medical and behavioural cases. Helping these dogs through some painful moments and bringing them into our home helped me overcome adversity. I was helping them, but it was actually helping me, too, because I felt like I had a purpose. I didn't realise it at the time – until after I was over my depression – what that experience has done for me." (theglobeandmail.com, 17 Feb 2022; CBC Sports YouTube channel, 10 Nov 2021; Facebook page, 09 Sep 2021; cbc.ca, 22 Sep 2020) FAMILY AFFAIR She married Hungarian speed skater Konrad Nagy in December 2020. "His team decided to keep him over in Europe this season [2021/22] versus being with our national team here in Canada. The Hungarian Federation treats me like one of their own because of Konny, and also because the Canadian team takes care of Konny while he's here." (CBC Sports YouTube channel, 10 Nov 2021; calgarysun.com, 16 Oct 2021; torontosun.com, 12 Oct 2021; kelownadailycourier.ca, 11 Dec 2020)
Memorable sporting achievement	Winning a gold medal and a silver medal at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (thestar.com, 19 Feb 2022)