Canadian speedskater Courtney Sarault on top of her game ahead of Milano Cortina 2026

When short track speedskater Courtney Sarault strides across the ice at lightning speeds, her mind slows to a calm state.

For the Olympian, speedkating is the “only place in the world where nothing else exists.”

“It's kind of like working in perfect harmony,” the 25-year-old from Moncton said.

That mind-body connection carried Sarault to her first Crystal Globe success at the 2025 ISU Short Track World Tour circuit after earning a silver in the 1,500-metre final — making her the first Canadian female to do so.

‘It feels unbelievable,’ speedskater Courtney Sarault reflects on Canada’s short track success

On the men’s side, Sherbrooke, Que., native William Dandjinou took his second world title in a row, and Team Canada won the third Crystal Globe in the team event.

“It feels unbelievable … I don't think a lot of countries can do that,” Sarault said. “So it just shows how strong Canada is.”

Sarault is expected to be named to the Canadian Olympic team later this month for her second Winter Games at Milan Cortina 2026.

Sarault competed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, where she finished 11th in both the women’s 1,000m and 1,500m, 4th in the women’s 3,000m relay, and 6th in the mixed 2,000m relay.  

With one Olympics under her belt, albeit a pandemic Games, Sarault says she will be more in control this time around, alongside her coach, Marc Gagnon.

“I think I'm the most excited that it's not a COVID-19 Olympics. So like the crowd and the energy … I think some people don't like that stuff and it might like get in their head, but I actually I feel like I fuel off of that,” she said.

Canada's Sarault and Dandjinou receive Crystal Globes for overall season titles

At Milano Cortina 2026, Sarault’s family plans on cheering her on