2018 Manitoba Winter Games: Speed Skating for Final Newsletter

If you’ve watched or participated in speed skating here at the 2018 Manitoba Games you might have seen, if not heard the voice of, one of Canada’s greatest speed skaters.

Susan Auch, who currently serves as the CEO of Speed Skating Canada, has been here in Thompson wearing a few different hats. Her badge says official, but she’s also been announcing for some races and cheering on her twin daughters who have been competing in short track.

Auch competed in multiple Olympic games at both short and long track, taking home silver medals in 1994 and 1998 in the 500m, and a bronze in 1988 in the 3000m relay. She has since been inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (2003), the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (2010) and the Canada Sports Hall of Fame (2015).

This was her first time here in Thompson and said that she has been enjoying her time. She added that this isn’t her first time in the north, as she’s been to Churchill and even as far north as Yellowknife, NWT.

When it comes to being a mother at the games, Susan said that she it’s an amazing learning experience for her daughters, and that she isn’t nervous to see them compete as many parents are. One of her twin daughters has been to Quebec for a competition this year, so she said it was nice to be able to get the multi-sport experience here in the province.

Auch said that it’s great to see speed skating back at a multi-sport event like the Manitoba Games, as speed skaters here in the province need the experience of events like this to prepare them for the Canada Games, and potential the Olympic Games. She said that it means something for the skaters to be taking part in this type of event, where they deal with the distractions they’ll be facing later on in their careers, like watching other sports and staying in villages with other athletes.

In addition to the Manitoba Games being practice for the Canada Games, it also serves as anther place for the skaters to compete. Auch said that most racing takes place inside the City of Winnipeg, with the farthest competitions inside Manitoba taking place in Brandon. Outside of the two largest urban centres in the province, she said that skaters have to travel to places like Calgary, Quebec and Minnesota to compete.

Susan said that one of the best things about multi-sport games is that the participants are constantly learning form other athletes and learning about other sports they may not be involved with, but might take in while they’re cheering on teammates. She added that it’s about the kids learning to get along with their teammates.

Auch said that everyone participating should realize the unique opportunity they have to watch other athletes participate in other sports while they’re here in Thompson. She said that she was inspired by a teammate in 1994 who won a medal, which made her believe that she could win one herself, which she did.