Jonathan Guilmette

Jonathan Guilmette was a champion at the juvenile level of short track speed skating by 1993 and was representing Canada at an international level by 1995. His career continued to rise in 1996 when he sent a junior-level record in the 500m event, and he was named an alternate on the men’s 5,000m relay team at the 1998 Winter Olympics, although he did not compete in the tournament. He won his first major international medal, silver in the team event, at the 1999 World Championships and his first gold, in the same event, at the 2000 edition. After winning silver in the 500m and 5,000m relay events and bronze in the 3,000m competition at the 2001 World Championships, he drew attention as a medal favorite at the 2002 Winter Olympics. He did not disappoint, taking home gold in the 5,000m relay and silver in the 500m individual, and then followed up his success with three silver medals (1,500m, 5,000m relay, team) at that year’s World Championships. He earned silver with the 5,000m relay team at the 2003 World Championships, in addition to gold in the team event, and acquired silver in the 1,500m and team events the following year. He was absent in 2005, but returned in time for the 2006 Winter Olympics, where he took silver in the 500m and 5,000m relay events, and later won gold and silver in the 5,000m relay and team events respectively at that year’s World Championships. He retired after the tournament and is now the head coach at the Montreal International skating club.