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1984 Sarajevo: Gaétan Boucher

Broadcast Date: March 11, 1984

Speed skater Gaétan Boucher is a study in opposites. Off the ice, he's recognized as a reserved and articulate gentleman. But on the ice, he channels his quiet reserve into singular ferocity and determination. In this CBC Radio interview, the 25-year-old marketing student humbly discusses his Olympic wins in Sarajevo and his dedication to his sport. Over the course of Boucher's spectacular Olympic career, he collects two gold, one silver and one bronze and is remembered as Canada's greatest winter Olympian.

1984 Sarajevo: Gaétan Boucher

• Gaétan Boucher was born on May 10, 1958, in Charlesbourg, Que.
• Boucher learned to skate in his own backyard when his father Cyrenus flooded the lawn and constructed a backyard rink. Hockey was Cyrenus's great ambition for his sons but Gaétan became interested in speed skating when he saw a flyer for a school speed skating club.
• Boucher showed promise at an early age and made the national speed skating team at age 17.

• Boucher found his early success in the rink addictive. He told Sports Illustrated in January 1988, "I won a medal when I was quite young. I learned what it was to be at the centre of attention. I don't know if I would have continued if I'd not won then. I learned what it was to go to a race and hear everyone whisper, 'Watch this guy.' I've enjoyed what you call this difficult life all this time because I did not want to give up that possibility."

• "What distinguished Boucher was the attention he paid to the details. He was very meticulous about trying to do each training program as perfectly as he could," former national speed-skating coach Jack Walters told CBC Television.
• Boucher was selected to carry the Canadian flag during the Sarajevo Olympic opening ceremonies.

• Covering the Sarajevo Olympics for the Globe and Mail, reporter James Christie remarked that Boucher skated with "strides that sent ice crystals dancing off his skate blades."
• Following Boucher's big wins, former Quebec premier René Lévesque reportedly said "Quebec 3, Canada 0." Boucher later responded, "I don't compete for French Canada or English Canada, but Canada as a whole."

• In 1980, Boucher was named Canadian Junior Athlete of the Year. Following his spectacular performance in Sarajevo, Boucher won the 1984 Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top male athlete and was promoted from Member to Officer of the Order of Canada. Also in the same year, he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and the Ste-Foy, Que., speed skating oval was renamed the anneau de glace Gaétan Boucher in his honour.

• In 1988, Boucher competed in his last Olympics before the home crowd in Calgary. A nagging injury resurfaced and Boucher was unable to stage a comeback. He finished ninth in his last race but still the crowd rose to its feet and gave the celebrated athlete a standing ovation.
• In total, Boucher competed in four Olympics from 1976 to 1988. He won silver in the 1000 metre event in Lake Placid. In Sarajevo, he won two golds (in the 1000 and the 1500) and a bronze in the 500.

• In his post speed skating career, Boucher worked for Bauer Nike Hockey as a product developer.
• Most recently, Boucher moved into the broadcasting realm as an analyst for Radio-Canada's coverage of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

• For a history of Canadian Olympians from 1948 to 1968, please visit Gold Medal Athletes: 1948–1968.
• At the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Canada collected only one medal — a silver from figure skater Karen Magnussen.
• In Innsbruck in 1976, Kathy Kreiner claimed Canada's only gold in the women's giant slalom; speed skater Cathy Priestner won silver and figure skater Toller Cranston won bronze.

• At the 1980 Lake Placid Games, Gaétan Boucher won silver and alpine skier Steve Podborski won bronze.
• At the 1984 Olympics, Boucher collected two golds and a bronze and figure skater Brian Orser settled for silver.

1984 Sarajevo: Gaétan Boucher

Medium: Radio

Program: Sunday Morning

Broadcast Date: March 11, 1984

Guest(s): Gaétan Boucher

Host: Christopher Thomas

Duration: 6:59

This clip has been edited for copyright reasons.

Last updated:
Jan. 14, 2010