Charles Hamelin: Four-time Olympic champion retires

4-time Olympic champion Charles Hamelin introduced the curtain down on his profession on the short-track speedskating world championships in Montreal on Sunday and mentioned there was no higher strategy to end than racing in entrance of his family and friends.

Hamelin, who received his fourth Olympic gold within the males’s 5,000-metre relay in Beijing earlier this 12 months, led Canada to bronze in the identical occasion on Sunday in his closing race.

The 37-year-old then took to the ice to skate a farewell lap together with his daughter in his arms.

“It means so much to me. She is somewhat older, however perhaps she did not perceive what was occurring. However I’m positive she loved the second with me. It was one of many issues I needed to do, and I’m glad it occurred right here in Montreal,” Hamelin mentioned.

“It is likely one of the greatest issues that occurred to me. The possibility to complete at dwelling, with my household within the stands, is the best feeling. It’s nearly like several Olympics I went to.”

Hamelin’s first Olympic medal was a silver within the 5,000-metre relay in Turin in 2006. He received gold in the identical occasion 4 years later in Vancouver in addition to a person gold within the 500-metre occasion.

He additionally received gold within the 1,500-metre occasion at Sochi in 2014 and a 5,000-metre relay bronze in Pyeongchang 4 years later.

Hamelin received 14 world titles, and claimed the general males’s title on the 2018 World Championships in Montreal.

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; modifying by Peter Rutherford )