Canadian short track speed skater Will Dandjinou is taking a unique approach to his Olympic preparations, aiming for a new outcome at the upcoming Games by venturing into long track speed skating for a change. After opting out of the initial two World Tour stops in Vancouver and Montreal, the back-to-back Crystal Globe champion revealed his plan to participate in the Canadian long track championships in Quebec City from Oct. 15-18.
Dandjinou expressed his excitement about this unexpected move, emphasizing his desire to explore new opportunities and draw parallels between long track and short track disciplines. While maintaining his focus on short track, he sees the potential benefits of cross-training in long track to enhance his performance.
The skater is set to compete in the 1,500-metre race at the long track nationals, with potential consideration for the mass start event. Despite his short track success, Dandjinou is open to the idea of a future transition to long track, following discussions with teammate Valérie Maltais, who made a similar switch and achieved notable success.
Head coach Marc Gagnon is supportive of Dandjinou’s decision to diversify his training, highlighting the benefits of exploring different aspects of speed skating. While the skater’s long-term plans remain open-ended, he remains determined to excel in short track and ultimately pursue his goal of becoming an Olympic champion.