Gaétan Boucher

Canadian speed skater

Gaétan T. Boucher OC CQ (born May 10, 1958) is a Canadian former speed skater. He competed in the 1500 m, 1000 m, 500 m, Sprint, and Overall events.

Gaétan Boucher
Gaétan Boucher on February 6, 1982
Personal information
NationalityCanadian
Born(1958-05-10)May 10, 1958
Charlesbourg, Quebec City, Quebec
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Sport
SportSpeed skating
ClubSkating Club Norbec
Skating Club Montréal
Medal record
Men's Speed skating
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1984 Sarajevo 1000 m
Gold medal – first place 1984 Sarajevo 1500 m
Silver medal – second place 1980 Lake Placid 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Sarajevo 500 m
World Sprint Championships
Gold medal – first place 1984 Trondheim Sprint
Silver medal – second place 1979 Inzell Sprint
Silver medal – second place 1980 West Allis Sprint
Silver medal – second place 1982 Alkmaar Sprint
Silver medal – second place 1985 Heerenveen Sprint
Men's Short track speed skating
World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
Gold medal – first place 1977 Grenoble Overall
Gold medal – first place 1980 Milan Overall
Silver medal – second place 1976 Champaign Overall
Silver medal – second place 1977 Grenoble 500 m
Silver medal – second place 1977 Grenoble 1000 m
Silver medal – second place 1981 Meudon Overall
Silver medal – second place 1982 Moncton Overall

Boucher competed for Canada at both the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York and at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. He would compete in the 1984 games after coming back from a broken ankle the year before.[1] He won a silver medal at the 1980 games, as well as two gold's and a bronze at the 1984 games. He won the silver in the 1000 m, the two golds in 1500 m and 1000 m, and the bronze in 500 m. Boucher became the first Canadian man to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics and was the record holder for winning the most medals for a Canadian athlete at one Olympics.[2]

Boucher was chosen to compete for Canada at the 1976 Winter Olympics, but he finished in ninth place in the 1000 m event. He would also compete for Canada in short-track speed skating at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships. He would participate in the 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, and 1982. Over the course of these competitions, Boucher won two gold medals and five silver medals.[3]

On April 11, 1984, Boucher was awarded the Officer of the Order of Canada.[4] He would also win the Lou Marsh Award and be inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.[5][6]

After retiring, Boucher started designing hockey skates for Bauer.[7]

References

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  1. "Gaetan Boucher: Memories of Sarajevo". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  2. "Speed skater Boucher breaks Canada's golden duck". Olympics. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  3. "Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships (368)". Olympedia. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  4. "Mr. GaÚtan Boucher". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  5. "Canada's Top Athletes". Lou Marsh Award. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  6. "Gaétan Boucher". Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  7. "Gaétan Boucher". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 6, 2024.

Other websites

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