Florence Brunelle, who made history as the youngest Canadian to compete in short-track speedskating at the Olympics, is embarking on a new journey following her challenging experience at the Beijing 2022 Games. After achieving her childhood dream of reaching the Olympics, Brunelle returned home feeling unfulfilled and questioning her goals, despite her considerable achievements in the sport. Her struggle with purpose highlights the emotional challenges athletes can face even after reaching seemingly lofty peaks in their careers.

During the Beijing Games, Brunelle faced a devastating moment in the mixed relay final when she inadvertently collided with another skater, causing both to fall. This incident not only caused Canada to miss out on a medal but also left her feeling she had let her teammates down. While falls are typical in short-track, Brunelle's strong sense of responsibility towards her team intensified her feelings of disappointment and self-blame, prompting her to rethink her path and motivations within the sport.

As Brunelle looks ahead, she aims to utilize her experiences to gain a fresh perspective on competition and sport. Her new outlook focuses on resilience and personal growth rather than solely on victories, aiming to find joy in the process of training and competing. This narrative serves as a reminder that the pressures of elite competition can affect athletes' mental health, and pursuing fulfillment may require redefining success and purpose beyond medals and records.