Hamelin suffers minor setback after dominant performance at Canadian team trials

MONTREAL – Gold medallist Charles Hamelin appears primed for the 2014 Winter Olympics — even if he suffered a minor setback at the Canadian team trials on Sunday.

Hamelin was forced to withdraw after slamming into the wall during a 1,000-metre semi-final.

The three-time Olympic medallist says he stretched a ligament in the crash but that the injury isn’t serious and he hopes to be back skating in a week.

Up until that point, Hamelin had dominated the competition, winning all of his eight races during the two-week long meet.

Overall, the make-up of Canada’s short-track team headed to Sochi, Russia, became a little more clear after the team trials.

Canada, a powerhouse at short-track, is led by an accomplished veteran group along with some promising emerging stars.

On the men’s side, Charles Hamelin, Charle Cournoyer and Olivier Jean are on solid footing to represent Canada at the Olympics.

Marie-Eve Drolet, Valerie Maltais and Marianne St-Gelais are the front-runners on the women’s side.

The Olympic group isn’t yet official, however.

Speed Skating Canada will announce a list of five men and five women on Aug. 29.

The athletes then have to confirm quota places for themselves and Canada at Olympic qualifying competitions in the fall.