Canada's long track speed skating program is building significant momentum as athletes prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, with interim High Performance Director Simon Nathan emphasizing a team-first approach that distributes expectations across the entire roster.
Veteran Leadership Guides Olympic Preparation
Simon Nathan, who previously spent seven years in the same role with athletics, has taken the reins of Canada's speed skating program during this crucial Olympic preparation period. His extensive experience with high-performance sports provides valuable perspective as athletes fine-tune their training for the upcoming Games.
"Business as usual for me," Nathan stated matter-of-factly. "I came from track and field where we achieved multiple gold medals in Paris and additional medals in Tokyo. Working with sports that have high expectations actually makes the job easier because you can set the standards high from the beginning."
Building on a Tradition of Excellence
The Canadian speed skating team benefits from strong infrastructure and support systems that Nathan believes position athletes for success. With quality coaching, facilities, and support staff already in place, the focus remains on execution rather than building from scratch.
"Canadian speed skaters understand, just like track and field athletes, that if they perform at their absolute best with the resources available, they have legitimate medal potential," Nathan explained. "This isn't some distant dream but a realistic aspiration for many team members. The foundation for success is already there."
Speed Skating Canada plans to conduct a search for a permanent High Performance Director following the 2026 Games, but for now, Nathan's mandate is clear: maintain the program's trajectory of excellence while keeping athletes focused on their preparation.
Early Season Success Builds Confidence
The current ISU World Cup season has already provided encouraging signs for the Canadian team. Nathan specifically highlighted the team's performance at the first World Cup event in Salt Lake City as evidence of their focused approach.
"I was really pleased with the first World Cup," Nathan noted. "Everyone demonstrated strong focus on their specific tasks and execution. In an Olympic year, the most critical factor is avoiding distractions from the surrounding hype and maintaining concentration on the technical aspects of the sport."
Beatrice Lamarche, one of Canada's promising speed skaters, has expressed confidence in her current form, stating she "felt this was going to be the best season of my life" and has already begun delivering on that prediction with strong early performances.
The collective approach appears to be resonating with athletes, who appreciate that "the whole weight of the country isn't on one person" but distributed across what Nathan describes as "a whole number of athletes" capable of contributing to Canada's Olympic success.
