Canadian speed skater Courtney Sarault on top of her game ahead of Milano Cortina 2026
Moncton native is 1st Canadian woman to win short track overall world title
When short track speed skater Courtney Sarault strides across the ice at lightning speeds, her mind slows to a calm state.
For the Olympian, speed skating is the “only place in the world where nothing else exists.”
“It's kind of like working in perfect harmony,” the 25-year-old from Moncton said.
That mind-body connection carried Sarault to her first Crystal Globe success at the 2025 ISU Short Track World Tour circuit after earning a silver in the 1,500-metre final — making her the first Canadian female to do so.
On the men’s side, Sherbrooke, Que., native William Dandjinou took his second world title in a row, and Team Canada won the third Crystal Globe in the team event.
“It feels unbelievable … I don't think a lot of countries can do that,” Sarault said. “So it just shows how strong Canada is.”
Sarault is expected to be named to the Canadian Olympic team later this month for her second Winter Games at Milan Cortina 2026.
2nd go at the Games
Sarault competed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, where she finished 11th in both the women’s 1,000m and 1,500m, 4th in the women’s 3,000m relay, and 6th in the mixed 2,000m relay.
With one Olympics under her belt, albeit a pandemic Games, Sarault says she will be more in control this time around, alongside her coach, Marc Gagnon.
“I think I'm the most excited that it's not a COVID-19 Olympics. So like the crowd and the energy … I think some people don't like that stuff and it might like get in their head, but I actually I feel like I fuel off of that,” she said.
At Milano Cortina 2026, Sarault’s family plans on cheering her on from the crowds — including her father, former professional hockey player drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, Yves Sarault.
“Having a dad that achieved what he wanted to achieve, and he followed his dreams and he was successful in the sport world, made me feel like maybe my dreams were closer than than I thought,” she said.
“They're just so proud of me and they just want me to have fun.”
After enduring a concussion and other physical recovery challenges in 2024, Sarault’s success comes amid what could be considered her “comeback season.”
Despite the setbacks, Sarault sees her injuries as a blessing in disguise.
“I feel like those hard years of my life actually propelled me to even a stronger version of myself and someone that could do anything, like no matter what was happening,” she said. “I just feel mentally so much stronger.”
“I think I'm just excited to kind of experience that Olympic magic. Everyone talks about that we missed out on [in Beijing].”
“And, hopefully, bring home some hardware.”
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