It is never easy having your racing season end after the team is decided early in the season. But even harder is picking yourself up and pushing the people who finished in front of you to be better than they were in the first place.

My partner (Hugues Fournel) and I won our selection to the Olympic team early in the racing season, shutting the door for a lot of teammates of ours. The decision to choose who we wanted to push us to the end of the summer was not easy, but it was much harder for them to say yes.

I have to thank Étienne Morneau (co-founder of sportcafe.ca) and Andrew Pickrem for being those two. It shows true drive and sportsmanship to do what they did for the good of the team and country. They truly love the sport and I’m sure they will be back next year stronger and better than ever; ready to race us again (as we hope they will). I want to commend them on their character and wish them an amazing summer as we leave Sunday for our Olympic journey. You two truly are great friends and amazing competitors!