Canadian speed skater overcame unique obstacles to win silver at Olympics
When things don’t go your way, four years is a gruelling amount of time to wait for redemption.
Just ask Canadian speed skater Florence Brunelle.
The Trois-Rivières, Quebec native was the youngest-ever short-track speedskater to make the Canadian Olympic team back in 2022.
However, her Olympic debut four years ago turned into something of a nightmare.
Brunelle’s skates clipped an opponent during a race. Both skaters crashed into the wall.
Not only that, but Brunelle was penalized on the play, pushing her team two spots down the standings. They finished sixth overall at the event.
“I’ve accomplished my dream, and I feel unhappy, so why would I pursue what I’m pursuing?” she said in 2018.
“I’ve lost my purpose.”
Well, on Tuesday, Brunelle got redemption.
Brunelle was one of six Canadian speed skaters who participated in the short track mixed relay, where Canada came home with a silver medal.
View this post on Instagram
Looks like Brunelle found her purpose.
Not only did Brunelle exact revenge by helping her country win a silver medal, but she overcame a unique personal hurdle as well.
Brunelle was born without three fingers on her left hand, something she revealed to the television cameras before the medal ceremony on Tuesday.
She appears to be the only Olympic speed skater ever to compete, nevermind win a medal, while missing fingers on a hand.
It’s easy to assume that missing fingers isn’t a huge hindrance in speed skating. However, speed skaters often use their hands to balance while going around turns.
Brunelle actually has a custom-made glove to help her with this.
Here you can see Brunelle's custom made glove for the Speed Skating on her left hand:
In a sport when you need so much precision, balance and leverage, this is pretty remarkable what she's doing. pic.twitter.com/pxmHws6j7Z
— Jacob Pacheco (@JacobPacheco6) February 10, 2026
The Olympic star previously posted on Instagram, saying, “I always hide my left hand. I shouldn’t.”
She’s absolutely right.