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NBC Sports
4 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
William Dandjinou flew from Olympic heartbreak to become world's best short track speed skater
Inside Montreal's Maurice Richard Arena, home to the world's dominant short track speed skating team, a not unreasonable target is written on a locker room board. Five Olympic golds. 'So there's five medal opportunities,' at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, reasoned William Dandjinou. 'I want to be able to seize those opportunities as best as I can, I guess.' In a three-year span, Dandjinou went from the sixth-best male short track speed skater in Canada — missing the five-man 2022 Olympic team by one spot — to the best in the world last season. Canada won all four men's events at this past March's World Championships, plus gold in the mixed-gender relay. The goal for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics: own the podium again. 'It (the board) is in my locker room where all my teammates can see, and I guess they have the same objectives as well,' Dandjinou said. 'So we'll work together to get there, and we'll see what happens.' Dandjinou, tall for a short tracker at 6 feet, 3 inches (and nearly seven feet on skates), is the son of microbiologists who volunteer at his competitions: dad Alain, who immigrated to Quebec from Ivory Coast (coincidentally an icemaker while at university), and mom Mirabelle, born and raised in Quebec City. Dandjinou was on the ice at age 2, said he was inspired by watching American Shani Davis win long track gold on TV at age 4 and began speed skating himself at age 6 in Montreal's Saint-Michel neighborhood. By 15, he had already risen above the competition. He caught the eyes of coach Marc Gagnon, a three-time Olympic gold medalist. 'The first time we were seeing him, we were like, yeah, we know that guy can go really far,' Gagnon said. 'We could see right away his potential.' Dandjinou made Canada's team for the World Junior Championships at 17. He began competing on the senior World Cup circuit at 18. At 20, he was in contention to make the 2022 Olympic team. He could have been the youngest Canadian Olympic male short tracker since Gagnon at the 1994 Lillehammer Games. Dandjinou's results in limited international opportunities in fall 2021 weren't enough to break into the more experienced five-man team for the Beijing Games. A coach had to deliver the news to him. In past Games, the alternate traveled to the Olympics just in case, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons, that didn't happen in 2022. Gagnon recalled 'how low (Dandjinou) was, how disappointed, how unhappy, how much he wanted to quit skating.' Determined, Dandjinou took solace in his youth, his work ethic and the potential that could be unlocked over the next four years. But then came a more heartbreaking setback later that year. Dandjinou was seventh overall in trials for the 2022-23 World Cup season. 'I worked harder than ever during that offseason because I knew I wanted to be part of that team,' he said. 'And then qualifiers arrive, and I get a lower ranking than before.' Dandjinou then took three weeks off from short track. It wasn't substantial enough to say he quit the sport, but he did spend about two weeks testing out long track speed skating 'I had to think through what was going to happen with my career and where I wanted to go,' he said. 'Going through long track was something I've always wanted to try, and I'm still open to trying, eventually, on a more serious level. It was more about experimenting and gaining perspective on my sport.' Later in fall 2022, Dandjinou got a call. Another Canadian skater was injured. Dandjinou was promoted to the World Cup team. In his first event back, he made his first career A final on the circuit, placing fourth in a 1500m in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It took another year for Dandjinou to take the next step. It was October 2023 at an early season World Cup in Maurice Richard Arena. Upon reaching the semifinals of one race, Dandjinou allowed himself to dream. What celebration would I do if make the podium at home? Dandjinou, sparked by eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno's expressiveness on the ice, trialed some ideas with his roommates. He anchored Canada to a relay victory and broke out Stephen Curry's 'Night, Night.' They eventually settled on a move Dandjinou calls 'spreading my wings.' Dandjinou won a 1500m in Montreal over the 2022 Olympic gold medalist in the event, Hwang Dae-Heon of South Korea, and started flapping before crossing the finish line. 'I wanted something that was unique, and I felt like the wings also was pretty representative, because I always performed well on the national level, right? But internationally was always pretty hard for me, especially on the senior level,' he said. 'So it was like a bird flying away from the nest, I guess. It felt good. And when I did it, I think the crowd felt my emotions as well.' BEIJING, CHINA - MARCH 16: William Dandjinou of Canada pose with their medals after competing in the Men's 1000m Finals during the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships on March 16, 2025 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images) (International Skating Union via Getty Images) Dandjinou won twice more on the World Cup in the 2023-24 season, plus took the 1000m at the March 2024 World Championships. He spread his wings after each victory. In the 2024-25 season, Dandjinou won eight of the 18 individual races and earned the crystal globe trophy as the world's top-ranked skater overall. The trophy rests at Maurice Richard Arena, another tangible piece of motivation for the entire Canadian team. Then at this past March's worlds, Dandjinou added three gold medals (1500m, men's relay, mixed relay) and one silver. Teammate Steven Dubois won the 500m and 1000m to give Canada a sweep of the men's events. Dandjinou's height can alter races both ways. It makes it difficult for others to pass him, but also tougher for him to weave through the field. He doesn't accelerate as quickly as shorter skaters, but once he's up to speed, it's easier for him to maintain the momentum. 'You can really feel that it gets hard for opponents sometimes to understand what I'm doing,' he said, 'because I'm doing my own thing.' Dandjinou now has his own logo as part of his own apparel collection. Back in February 2022, he felt pride, and some relief, as Canada won the Olympic men's relay without him. Now, they will be counting on him. Perhaps to anchor a relay, and to deliver a fitting celebration in Milan. 'If they wouldn't have won (in 2022), then it would have been more heartbreaking to me, because I would have felt like maybe I could have done something to get them over the edge,' he said. 'Maybe I was just not ready. It helped me go over that and try to work harder to be there the next (time).' Nick Zaccardi,
Al Arabiya
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Buonfiglio the New Italian Olympic Committee Boss Ahead of Milan-Cortina Games
Luciano Buonfiglio, a canoe athlete at the 1976 Montreal Games, was elected president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) on Thursday to keep the body moving in the same direction ahead of next winter's Milan-Cortina Games. The 74-year-old Buonfiglio, who has been president of the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation since 2005, was the candidate supported by outgoing CONI president Giovanni Malagò. Malagò, who is leaving the presidency after 12 years and three terms, remains president of the Milan-Cortina organizing committee. Buonfiglio was elected in the first round after receiving 47 of the 81 votes. Luca Pancalli, who led Italy's Paralympic Committee for a quarter century, received the remaining 34 votes. Franco Carraro, the 85-year-old former International Olympic Committee member who ran as a peacemaker, didn't get any votes. During his pre-vote speech, Carraro said he was very concerned that Buonfiglio and Pancalli led groups of voters who were strongly opposed to each other, but told his supporters that they were free to vote for either of those two candidates. Buonfiglio was also a CONI vice president from 2013–18.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
An 85-year-old former IOC member could be the key candidate in contentious vote for CONI presidency
ROME (AP) — An 85-year-old former IOC member could be the decisive candidate in a contentious election for the presidency of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), which will have a major role in helping organize next winter's Milan-Cortina Games. Franco Carraro is seen as a peacemaker between leading candidates Luciano Buonfiglio and Luca Pancalli in Thursday's vote. Advertisement Outgoing CONI president Giovanni Malagò supports Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation, while Sports Minister Andrea Abodi supports Pancalli, the president of the Italian Paralaympics Committee. With both Buonfiglio and Pancalli maintaining that they have the necessary 41 votes to be elected with an outright majority in the first round, the election could come down to more rounds of voting when Carraro might swing his supporters one way or another. Carraro was nominated as a neutral option but needed special approval since he already served three terms as CONI president from 1978-1987. The electoral commission admitted him, though, apparently because he served before new rules were instituted limiting presidents to a maximum of three terms. Carraro was an International Olympic Committee member from 1982 to 2019, when his membership expired due to age limits. In 2020 he became an honorary member. Advertisement Carraro's career spans 7 decades Known as the 'Presidentissimo,' Carraro has also led the Italian soccer federation on multiple occasions, was Rome's mayor and served as an Italian senator, among many other duties in a sports administration career spanning seven decades — since he became president of the Italian Waterski Federation in 1962. 'Time passes for everything,' Abodi said when Carraro was nominated. Still, the race is expected to come down to the 74-year-old Buonfiglio, who was a canoe athlete at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and has led Italy's canoe and kayak federation since 2005; and the 61-year-old Pancalli, who has led Italy's Paralaympics committee for a quarter century. Advertisement Paolo Barelli and Angelo Binaghi, the influential presidents of the Italian swimming and tennis federations, respectively, and longtime enemies of Malagò, both support Pancalli. Malagò remains Milan-Cortina president Malagò, who is leaving the presidency after 12 years and three terms, unsuccessfully lobbied for a special extension to remain in charge through the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February and Paralympics in March. Malagò is also the president of the Milan-Cortina organizing committee and is expected to remain in that position. He's also an IOC member. No women among 8 candidates There are 80 potential voters, so 41 votes are needed to win in the first round. Advertisement In the second and third rounds, a majority of votes among those present at the election are required, while from the fourth round, whoever gets the most votes wins. Besides Carraro, Buonfiglio and Pancalli, there are five other candidates who are not expected to garner much support. None of the candidates are women. Soccer and sailing events CONI oversees all sports in Italy, which has a series of major events coming up: The America's Cup sailing competition will be held of Naples in 2027, the next Winter Youth Olympics will be held in northern Italy in 2028, and soccer's European Championship will be co-hosted by Italy and Turkey in 2032. ___ AP Olympics:
Associated Press
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
An 85-year-old former IOC member could be the key candidate in contentious vote for CONI presidency
ROME (AP) — An 85-year-old former IOC member could be the decisive candidate in a contentious election for the presidency of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), which will have a major role in helping organize next winter's Milan-Cortina Games. Franco Carraro is seen as a peacemaker between leading candidates Luciano Buonfiglio and Luca Pancalli in Thursday's vote. Outgoing CONI president Giovanni Malagò supports Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation, while Sports Minister Andrea Abodi supports Pancalli, the president of the Italian Paralaympics Committee. With both Buonfiglio and Pancalli maintaining that they have the necessary 41 votes to be elected with an outright majority in the first round, the election could come down to more rounds of voting when Carraro might swing his supporters one way or another. Carraro was nominated as a neutral option but needed special approval since he already served three terms as CONI president from 1978-1987. The electoral commission admitted him, though, apparently because he served before new rules were instituted limiting presidents to a maximum of three terms. Carraro was an International Olympic Committee member from 1982 to 2019, when his membership expired due to age limits. In 2020 he became an honorary member. Carraro's career spans 7 decades Known as the 'Presidentissimo,' Carraro has also led the Italian soccer federation on multiple occasions, was Rome's mayor and served as an Italian senator, among many other duties in a sports administration career spanning seven decades — since he became president of the Italian Waterski Federation in 1962. 'Time passes for everything,' Abodi said when Carraro was nominated. Still, the race is expected to come down to the 74-year-old Buonfiglio, who was a canoe athlete at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and has led Italy's canoe and kayak federation since 2005; and the 61-year-old Pancalli, who has led Italy's Paralaympics committee for a quarter century. Paolo Barelli and Angelo Binaghi, the influential presidents of the Italian swimming and tennis federations, respectively, and longtime enemies of Malagò, both support Pancalli. Malagò remains Milan-Cortina president Malagò, who is leaving the presidency after 12 years and three terms, unsuccessfully lobbied for a special extension to remain in charge through the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February and Paralympics in March. Malagò is also the president of the Milan-Cortina organizing committee and is expected to remain in that position. He's also an IOC member. No women among 8 candidates There are 80 potential voters, so 41 votes are needed to win in the first round. In the second and third rounds, a majority of votes among those present at the election are required, while from the fourth round, whoever gets the most votes wins. Besides Carraro, Buonfiglio and Pancalli, there are five other candidates who are not expected to garner much support. None of the candidates are women. Soccer and sailing events CONI oversees all sports in Italy, which has a series of major events coming up: The America's Cup sailing competition will be held of Naples in 2027, the next Winter Youth Olympics will be held in northern Italy in 2028, and soccer's European Championship will be co-hosted by Italy and Turkey in 2032. ___ AP Olympics:
NBC Sports
16-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2026 Olympic men's hockey rosters: first six players per team named so far
The 12 nations that qualified for the 2026 Olympic men's hockey tournament are naming the first six players to their roster on Monday. The final 25-man rosters will be named closer to the start of the Milan Cortina Games, which open Feb. 6. It will mark the return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games. Below are the nations that so far have named their first six players. Latvia: Rodrigo Abols, Uvis Balinskis, Zemgus Girgensons, Elvis Merzlikins, Arturs Silovs, Teodors Blugers; Finland: Juuse Saros, Esa Lindell, Miro Heiskanen, Mikko Rantanen, Aleksander Barkov, Sebastian Aho; Sweden: Rasmus Dahlin, Victor Hedman, Adrian Kempe, Gabriel Landeskog, William Nylander, Lucas Raymond; Italy: Damian Clara, Thomas Larkin, Luca Zanatta, Diego Kostner, Tommy Purdeller, Daniel Mantenuto; Czechia: David Pastrnak, Martin Necas, Ondrej Palat, Pavel Zacha, Radko Gudas, Lukas Dostal; Switzerland: Jonas Siegenthaler, Roman Josi, Kevin Fiala, Nico Hischier, Nino Niederreiter, Timo Meier; Germany: Leon Draisaitl, Moritz Seider, Philipp Grubauer, Lukas Reichel, Nico Sturm, Tim Stutzle; Slovakia: Juraj Slafkovsky, Martin Pospisil, Simon Nemec, Martin Fehervary, Erik Cernak, Tomas Tatar; Denmark: Frederik Andersen, Nikolaj Ehlers, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Jesper Jensen Aabo, Lars Eller, Jonas Rondbjerg Nick Zaccardi,
