Speed skating is one of the most amazing sports games in the world. It’s no wonder you only find it in a few regions. And that is one of the reasons Susan Auch speed skating Canada is an amazing story.
Very few people get involved fully in such activities as speed skating. Most are not just interested, while some think it’s too risky. Amazingly, Auch has taken it up as a passion and has been representing Canada since she was 17.
Today, we look at her amazing journey and success story, hoping to inspire young athletes all over the world.
Sporting History
Auch might have been born with a talent clearly written on her face – that she was to become an international athlete. She got interested in speed skating at a young age and started practicing for perfection. She spent more than 17 years of her life representing Canada in various competitions. She was in the four Olympic games and won different medals and awards.
Her official Olympic debut came in 1992 at Albertville. Even though she finished 6th in the 500m and 17th in the 1000m, Auch did not give up on her dreams. In the next two Olympics, she emerged with silver in 1994 and 1998. This was an amazing performance considering she had suffered a stress fracture in her femur between the two events.
In 1994, Auch lost the gold to Bonny Blair at Lillehammer, who would become her main rival. And in 1998, she was separated from the gold by three-hundredths of a second from the top skaters. She stared well at the second 500m race, but LeMay Doan finished first, taking the gold.
Auch went on a brief retirement from active sporting in 1999. But she returned to the scene much stronger in 2000 and competed at Salt Lake City in 2002.
From an early age the world
It’s amazing how Auch became a star in speed skating at the young age of 9. She started in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on the Sargent Park oval, after which she is named after. She majorly excelled in short track events at the Winter Games, Quebec, in 1983, winning gold in the 400m and 800m and silver in the 3000m. From there, she spent four years with the Canadian short tracks speed skating team. In 1985, while still with the team, she won her first World Championship medal – a bronze in 500m. She then won gold in the 3000m relay in 1986 and 1988.
In 1988, Auch changed her focus to long-track speed skating. She spent her next 13 years with the national team. She won a silver at the World Championships in 1992.
Auch attended the University of Calgary, where she studied communications. She later became a motivational speaker after retiring from the sport. She did many other jobs, including working in television and creating a successful career in real estate.
Auch became the president of Speed Skating Canada’s Board of Directors in 2017 after serving in different capacities since 2008. She was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, among other high-ranking awards.
Today
Today, Auch continues to inspire many talents. Her story will be told for many generations. Even though she was recently removed from being the CEO of Speed Skating Canada, she remains a strong figure with a lot more to offer.
