Then: Jeff Scholten
Jeff Scholten of Fredericton made his mark as one of Canada’s most accomplished speed skaters. He set five world records, including three in the 500m, one in the 1000m, and one in the 5000m team relay. He also won a first place at the 2003 ISU World Team Championships. Years later, as a coach, Jeff's knowledge for and love of the sport is still winning medals for Canada.
Now: Courtney Sarault
Courtney Sarault burst onto the international speed skating scene with her World Cup debut in the 2018-19 season, where she claimed silver in the 1500m and later won bronze in the 3000m relay at the World Championships. Jeff Scholten has been her long-term coach.
Sarault credits Scholten with guiding her through the highs and lows, and for making her training an enjoyable process. “I’ve had Jeff as a coach ever since I was first on the team. He really helped me get into the training gradually and always made sure it was fun and light,” she said. "Since last year was rough for me, I actually had Jeff again this summer as my coach. I was still doing national team training... but my own plan was a bit different so Jeff was in charge. This was really good for me because Jeff brought back the fun."
Advice for Aspiring Athletes
We always ask our honoured members, and our province's inspirational athletes for what they've learned from sport, and what advice they have for younger players and young people in general; to this question, Courtney offers the following advice:
“Get involved in something, whether it’s sports or something else that gets you out of the house and doing new things... Being a speed skater has taught me so much not only about sport but about life. I’ve gone through really tough moments, mentally and physically, and got through them all. It taught me strength and resilience and made me a stronger more self-aware human. I think it’s important to know that everyone’s journey to the top or where they want to be is different... Not every journey has to be the same. Even if yours is hard and there’s many ups and downs you always learn a lesson when you overcome the hardships."
We thank Courtney Sarault, for the chance to have a conversation. The New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame wishes you the best of luck and success!
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