Olympic Speed Skater Ends Season

After three years on the Canadian Senior National Team, short track speed skater Anouk Leblank-Boucher is taking time off to be a mom.

The 22 year old embraces a roll that’s even more thrilling than being named Speed Skating Canada’s 2006 Female Skater of the Year. She and her husband are delighted at the news of their impending arrival.

In a press release from Speed Skating Canada, she is quoted as saying: “I’m very happy. Of course, this unexpected news puts an end to my season, but I’m planning to keep skating. A post-Olympic year is good to take time for myself. I am planning to stay in as good a shape as possible in order to get back on the ice for the 2007-08 season, and to prepare for the 2010 Olympic Games.”

During her time off, Anouk remains a national team member. Coaches and trainers have given her a pregnancy-specific routine to follow so that she can return to competition next season without major transition.

Anne Maltais, already scheduled to skate in this weekend’s Saguenay World Cup races, will sub for Anouk at the Montreal World Cup December 8th and 9th. Anne is certainly not the competitive star she is replacing, but we look forward to seeing if she can push herself toward the top of the leader board this year.

In 2004, Anouk was given the rising star award for her federation, and for good reason. Since exploding onto the world circuit, she hasn’t strayed far from the podium. Highlighting her career is a bronze medal win in the 500m at the Olympic Winter Games in Torino. She also was a member of the silver medal relay team at the games.

Anouk is sure to be in top form for the 2010 Olympics. There, her rooting section will be a little bigger than in 2006. Congratulations to her and her hubby.