Laurent DAIGNAULT

The younger brother and Olympic teammate of Michel Daignault, short track speed skater Laurent Daignault first made a national name for himself by winning a gold medal for Quebec as part of the men’s 3,000m relay at the 1987 Canada Winter Games. After this he competed often, but rarely reached the podium for major competitions prior to resurfacing in 1992, when short track speed skating was first made an official part of the Olympic program. He competed in only one event at that year’s Winter Olympics, the men’s 5,000m relay, and won silver alongside his teammates, which included his brother, at the Olympic event. He did not originally receive a medal for the Canadian victory in the event, as he skated only in the semifinal, and not the final, round, as he had been injured during the competition and was replaced by Mark Lackie. This decision was later overturned and the younger Daignault received his Olympic silver in 1994, over two years after the event. In December 2006 he joined the United States’ national speed skating program as a coach and technical advisor. He had previously held these positions with Speed Skating Canada since 2000, but left two months after his friend Guy Thibault was dismissed as head coach with the organization.