The 29-year-old short-track star from Sainte-Julie, Que., won gold in the 1,500 metres Monday. Two more medals in Sochi and he’ll be the most decorated Canadian male Olympian. He spoke to me before heading to Russia for the Games
Before a race I listen to Linkin Park. It’s the best group there is to get motivated.
I never put product in my hair. Never. I do this with my hat. It’s natural.
I have two favourite meals. One is macaroni and cheese with meat, and tomato juice. We put cheese on the top, and it’s homemade. The other meal is spaghetti with my mom’s tomato sauce.
After competition I always go to McDonald’s and I always order a Big Mac meal. Sometimes I supersize.
The three things I always travel with: First, my skates and blades. My computer, to stay connected with my family and fans. The third thing is my girlfriend (fellow Olympic speed skater Marianne St-Gelais).
After the 1,500-m race, your legs feel like cement blocks. Bending them and even sitting down is really painful. You need to get on the bicycle to clean out all the acid.
After Vancouver, people were coming up to Marianne and I and saying thanks, because of the moment we offered them after my gold medal in the 500 m, when we were together and hugging on the boards. People were telling us, “You brought fire back to our relationship!” We were amazed. We were like, “Wow! What do you want us to say? We’re really happy for you!”
I would most like to meet the hockey players. I’m a big fan of those guys. It’s been six years now we’ve been doing a hockey pool with all the boys in short track. To meet them would be really cool. If I can have chats with some of them, it would be even better. I would love to talk to Carey Price.