Christine Boudrias

Short track speed skater Christine Boudrais joined the Canadian National Team in 1991, but a severe slash from a collision, which severed an artery while her heart was still racing from competition, cost her more than a gallon of blood, her chance to participate at the 1992 Winter Olympics, and nearly her life. A specialist in the 3,000m relay, she spent the next two years competing internationally for her country and won a gold medal in the event at the 1993 World Championships alongside teammates, Nathalie Lambert, Isabelle Charest, and Angela Cutrone. At the 1994 Winter Olympics Cutrone was replaced by Sylvie Daigle and the Canadians took home a 3,000m relay silver medal from the tournament. Boudrais’ medal was stolen in November of that year, while it was on display an Olympic Stadium sports show, but it was recovered the next day following an anonymous tip that had been sent to Le Journal de Montreal. Boudrais continued her regimen of international competition, which included another 3,000m relay gold at the 1994 World Championships and several World Cup victories, and found success nationally as well, placing third overall in the 1997 Canadian Championships. At the 1998 Winter Olympics she took home a bronze medal in the 3,000m relay and continued her international success into the new millennium, retiring in 2001. She now works as a motivational speaker, particularly in French speaking regions of Canada.