William Dandjinou and Florence Brunelle may only be 23 and 20 years old, but their wealth of experience on the international stage is already very impressive. Both reigning Canadian champions, they will be among the headliners at the Maurice-Richard Arena this weekend.
The former is the reigning world champion in the 1000 m in addition to finishing the 2023-2024 season at the top of the World Cup 1500 m rankings, while the latter is an eight-time medalist at the Junior World Championships, in addition to being an Olympian at the Beijing Games.
They won the national championship titles in September and are ready to take on the challenges ahead of them on the brand new World Tour, with Ice Maples of Canada.
“The level is very high at the Canadian championships. It bodes well for the season, and it’s good for confidence at the start of the season. I didn’t dominate either, there was some great learning done over this weekend,” commented William Dandjinou on Sportcom.
The Montrealer did not want to talk about expectations, but rather about hopes for the new season, which begins this weekend at the Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal, where he will continue on the same wave as last year.
We have always had the ambition to win, regardless of the effort, but this year, with a crystal ball per team, it is certain that the ambitions will be high. I’m not in a race to be number two. Obviously, I hope to repeat my celebration of wings as often as possible, but I might save that for the grand ambitions.
William Dandjinou
Without wanting to define himself as a leader within the Canadian team, the Canadian champion still admitted he relishes the role of young veteran he will be given the chance to play over the winter.
“The team is getting younger, it’s interesting because I’ve been skating with Félix Roussel and Philippe Daudelin since I was 6 years old, and now I find them on the national team. There is a certain change of guard that is felt, that’s for sure, but I believe that this is the natural order of the sport,” he says.
“I don’t want to call myself a leader at all, but I think I’m a good person to bridge the gap between the experience of guys like Steven Dubois and Jordan Pierre-Gilles and the new guys coming in with us. I like this role and I think ‘big brother’ would be a term that would stick more,” added Dandjinou, who will start the 500m, 1000m, 1500m as well as the men’s relay this weekend.
Florence Brunelle back on top
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
Florence Brunelle
The last two years have been rather atypical for Florence Brunelle. After taking a half-season break in 2022 to gain some perspective on his future, the skater from Trois-Rivières missed the second half of last campaign due to a back injury, the rehabilitation of which took longer than expected.
“I thought it had been a long time since I had done any big competitions, it had been since last January! I’m still fine, I was in rehab from February to June and I’ve been back ever since. I don’t feel any pain, so that’s a good sign,” Florence Brunelle said of her performance at the Canadian Championships.
In great form, Brunelle won the Canadian title for the first time in her career a few weeks ago, a triumph that seems to bode well for her.
It was a good first meeting after a good summer of training. This year I want to perform internationally and I think the Canadian championships were a good transition to international competitions. I learned a lot and I am making corrections for the upcoming season.
Florence Brunelle
Florence Brunelle approaches in the same spirit as William Dandjinou. The next generation is taking an increasingly important place on the Canadian team and they are proud to be a part of it.
“The sport is developing everywhere, there are young athletes who are becoming dominant internationally and that is the case here as well. I am still part of the next generation, although I still have a little experience. It will only be my third year at the international senior circuit, but I already know a lot. I’m looking forward to working with the beautiful young people who are slowly coming along,” she added.
This year, it is with unconditional confidence and a rekindled love for his sport that Brunelle is looking for a first individual medal on the World Tour. She has four relay medals since the start of her World Cup career.
“It is clear, clear and precise for me, I am ready to do what it takes to be part of the world elite. At the moment I am fulfilled by my sport and I enjoy doing what I do. I don’t get discouraged, I have to keep improving and the medals will come if I stay focused like I already am, I feel it’s really possible!” Trifluienne concluded.
Brunelle will this weekend skate in the 500m and 1000m, in addition to taking part in the women’s relay with Kim Boutin, Danaé Blais, Rikki Doak and Qi Miao.
