Bronze medal-winner has amazing reaction after making Canadian Olympic history
This one is for the people of New Brunswick.
On Thursday, Moncton-raised Courtney Sarault captured a bronze medal for Canada in the women’s short-track 500-metre speed skating finals.
Not only that, but it was her first Olympic medal in an individual event.
By winning the medal, she made Canadian history. Something that even she was surprised to learn.
After winning bronze for her country, the CBC’s Devin Heroux let her know that she became the first Canadian ever outside of Quebec to win a medal in short-track speed skating.
The news from Heroux left her stunned.
“Oh, wow,” she said.
Then, she gave a shoutout to her hometown province.
“Let’s go, New Brunswick, woo!”
Shoutout New Brunswick š
Courtney Sarault talks to Devin Heroux after her bronze-medal performance in the womenās 500m š„#OlympicWinterGamesPrimetime presented by @RBC pic.twitter.com/0We1XwoSmn
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 13, 2026
The broadcast panned to a hometown crowd cheering her on in Frederiction, N.B., at Willie O’Ree Place.
Sarault also acknowledged why Quebec has been such a factory for speed skaters in this country.
“Quebec has such a good program for skating, and I hope that this inspires people that maybe are from smaller towns that they can also dream big, and you’re not limited to your smaller town.”
“If you want something, you can work for it,” she said. “Anything is possible.”
Sarault was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where her father, former NHLer Yves Sarault, played for the IHL’s the Grand Rapids Griffins at the time.
He did earn a recall to the Ottawa Senators that season, playing his last game for them less than three weeks before his daughter was born.
Sarault previously credited her hockey upbringing for helping her avoid a crash in the team relay earlier in these Olympic Games.
Between her silver medal in the team relay, along with her bronze medal victory on Thursday, it’s been a fantastic showing for the New Brunswick native.
“I hope this inspires some New Brunswickers, or anyone watching from a smaller province.”
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Sarault may have other opportunities to add to her medal count. Canada’s women’s short-track speed skating team will compete in events on Feb. 16, Feb. 18, and Feb. 20.