Revised coaching structure sees Sébastien Cros shift into newly created role Assistant Head Coach
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – Marc Gagnon – one of the country’s most decorated short track speed skaters – was named the new head coach of the Canadian national program today, following an adjustment to the coaching structure within the high-performance program that also sees veteran coach Sebastien Cros move into the newly created role of assistant head coach.
The duo of Gagnon and Cros have worked side-by-side with the National Program since 2021, with Cros holding the position of head coach and Gagnon occupying the role of assistant coach. This most recent adjustment to coaching roles and responsibilities was made in an effort to better match the skillset and interest of the coaches with the evolving needs of the high-performance program.
A five-time Olympic medalist as a skater, Gagnon joined Canada’s national short track program as an assistant coach in 2021, where he supported both the men’s and women’s teams alongside Cros. The native of Chicoutimi, Que., became a member of the coaching staff at the Canadian Regional Training Centre (CRCE) in Montreal in 2010, where he was responsible for preparing the sport’s rising stars. He was promoted to head coach of the CRCE in 2014, a role he held until joining the national program three seasons ago.
In his new role of head coach, Gagnon becomes the public face of the short track program and will be responsible for developing its overall strategic direction. He will act as the liaison between the coaching and support staff, with a focus on further enhancing team and staff cohesion both on and off the ice.
A former skater and coach with France’s short track program, Cros has held multiple roles with Canada’s national program since moving to the country in 2007. The 48-year-old has spent time as coach of the Canadian women’s squad and of the NextGen program, before taking over leadership of both the men’s and women’s national teams in 2021. His resume includes guiding Canadian athletes to a combined six Olympic medals at Vancouver 2010 and Beijing 2022.
In the newly created role of assistant head coach, Cros will remain responsible for the development of the overall collective training plans for the national team, while also ensuring training alignment with the NextGen program. He will also remain the lead coach for the Olympic champion men’s relay team.
Gagnon, Cros and the remainder of the Canadian coaching staff are currently preparing for the 2024-25 season, where they will look to build off last year’s successful campaign that saw them win an impressive 35 World Cup medals (15 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze) and lead both William Dandjinou and Kim Boutin to World Championship titles.
The upcoming season gets underway with the 2024 Canadian Short Track Championships presented by Intact Insurance, which run from September 13-15 at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal. Canada’s top skaters will compete a little over a month later at the inaugural stop of the ISU Short Track World Tour, schedule for October 25-27 in Montreal.
Quotes
Marc Gagnon, Head Coach, Short Track National Program“I am truly grateful towards Speed Skating Canada for this new opportunity and for their confidence in me as a coach. My approach focused on performance through the well-being and human development of each athlete, but also of the support team, aligns very well with the values of the organization. I intend to fulfill my new mandate by maintaining this shared vision and doing everything in my power to help those around me achieve their full potential, all while respecting their personal ambitions. I will also happily fulfill the role of spokesperson for my sport, something that inevitably comes with taking on this privileged position!”
Marc Schryburt, Director, High Performance – Short Track“We’re very excited to have Marc Gagnon at the helm of Canada’s short track program as we head into Milan Cortina 2026. We want to thank Sebastien Cros for his incredible work as head coach over the past three seasons and know that he will continue to be a valuable contributor to our success in his new role. The members of our coaching staff are all tremendously talented, and we believe that under Marc’s leadership they will be able to reach new heights and achieve great things both on and off the ice. While job titles and responsibilities may have shifted, we’re confident that putting coaches in the best position to succeed on a personal and professional level will be a great benefit to the entire National Program.”