HAMELIN BROTHERS: 100 Days to Fate
04 November 2009
Short track speed skaters Charles and François Hamelin know that fate rests in their hands, 100 days from the start of the 2010 Olympics on Feb 12th, and they’re putting the training pedal to the metal in their hometown of Montreal. The brothers are hoping to fulfill their Olympic medal dreams and keep it all in the family as Yves Hamelin, their coach and father, guides them to their date with Olympic destiny.
With a World Cup event happening this weekend on their home turf, the brothers are looking to get a leg up on their international rivals and go to the Games with strong momentum. The duo know that any advantage gained now will help reap rewards for their first race on Feb 13th, so the determined brothers are training harder now than ever before.
"I think for us, it's a day-to-day thing. We wake up every morning and we have to train. We've been doing weight station training, and every single part of my body is sore and hurting. It's hard to even walk or go up stairs, but every morning and afternoon I'm always there, always training. I just do it, its part of my life. It's part of our DNA."
It's all about athletes' perseverance to their athletic goals, by dictating the desired outcome with good old-fashioned hard work and relentless training. For example, François talks about Nike's resonant message, Force Fate. "For me, I Force Fate by going to the rink every day and by doing what my coaches want me to do. I know that if I train and follow the plan, I'll be forcing fate to give me the outcome I'm looking for. My sheer dedication to skating forces my fate."
Just competing for a place in the Olympics has brought out the best in the Hamelins. Hopes are that the Games themselves will result in Olympic medals. "The best race of my life was during the Olympic trials. To make sure we were on the Olympic team, I had to do something I've never done in my life. Going in front and leading the whole race, I didn't win but I raced the fastest race of my life. I never had the guts to do it before, but to get into the Olympics, I had to."
For the Hamelin brothers, just getting to the Olympics isn't enough. They're counting down the final 100 days to the games by doing everything they can to ensure they're standing side by side on the podium.
With a World Cup event happening this weekend on their home turf, the brothers are looking to get a leg up on their international rivals and go to the Games with strong momentum. The duo know that any advantage gained now will help reap rewards for their first race on Feb 13th, so the determined brothers are training harder now than ever before.
"I think for us, it's a day-to-day thing. We wake up every morning and we have to train. We've been doing weight station training, and every single part of my body is sore and hurting. It's hard to even walk or go up stairs, but every morning and afternoon I'm always there, always training. I just do it, its part of my life. It's part of our DNA."
It's all about athletes' perseverance to their athletic goals, by dictating the desired outcome with good old-fashioned hard work and relentless training. For example, François talks about Nike's resonant message, Force Fate. "For me, I Force Fate by going to the rink every day and by doing what my coaches want me to do. I know that if I train and follow the plan, I'll be forcing fate to give me the outcome I'm looking for. My sheer dedication to skating forces my fate."
Just competing for a place in the Olympics has brought out the best in the Hamelins. Hopes are that the Games themselves will result in Olympic medals. "The best race of my life was during the Olympic trials. To make sure we were on the Olympic team, I had to do something I've never done in my life. Going in front and leading the whole race, I didn't win but I raced the fastest race of my life. I never had the guts to do it before, but to get into the Olympics, I had to."
For the Hamelin brothers, just getting to the Olympics isn't enough. They're counting down the final 100 days to the games by doing everything they can to ensure they're standing side by side on the podium.
