Men
COL
Nicolas Laborde
COL- Date of birth27 Jun 1997
- Height178 CM
- ProfessionConstruction Worker
- HometownCalgary
- Place of birthBogotá
- Start skatingHe began practising inline skating at age five in Colombia. He took up short track during the 2014/15 season in Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Club Gadbois: Montreal, QC, CAN
- HobbiesListening to music. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
- LanguagesEnglish, French, Spanish
- Other nameNico (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
- CoachN/A
- Former CoachN/A
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
Qualifying for the 1500m A final at the 2020 Four Continents Championships in Montreal, QC, Canada. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
"Insist, persist, resist, and never desist." (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
His father. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
He broke his arm in 2004 and 2013, requiring several weeks of recovery on both occasions. (Athlete, 22 Nov 2021, 02 Nov 2018)
MOVE TO CANADA
At age 16 he relocated from Colombia to Montreal, QC, Canada, in order to study English. Having competed in roller speed skating in Colombia, he was persuaded to try short track once he got to Canada. In 2020 he moved to Calgary, Alberta. "There is a big difference between wheels and blades. Most inline skaters switch to long track [speed skating] because it's much more similar to inline in the way you push. Short track is about corners. People back home are proud but they know what I'm doing isn't easy. I travel alone, which is not easy. If I have skate problems, I have to go to another team to fix it. But in a way that's good because you make lots of friends." (fedepatin.org.co, 21 May 2021; lapresse.ca, 20 Jan 2020; isu.org, 15 Apr 2019)
OTHER ROLES
He was a founding member and head coach of Saint-Constant Speed Skating Club in Canada. He has also served as a coach at the Montreal Gadbois club in Canada, and in 2020 he joined the coaching staff at the Calgary Speed Skating Association in Canada. (calgaryspeedskating.ca, 22 Sep 2020; lapresse.ca, 20 Jan 2020; LinkedIn profile, 2020)
At age 16 he relocated from Colombia to Montreal, QC, Canada, in order to study English. Having competed in roller speed skating in Colombia, he was persuaded to try short track once he got to Canada. In 2020 he moved to Calgary, Alberta. "There is a big difference between wheels and blades. Most inline skaters switch to long track [speed skating] because it's much more similar to inline in the way you push. Short track is about corners. People back home are proud but they know what I'm doing isn't easy. I travel alone, which is not easy. If I have skate problems, I have to go to another team to fix it. But in a way that's good because you make lots of friends." (fedepatin.org.co, 21 May 2021; lapresse.ca, 20 Jan 2020; isu.org, 15 Apr 2019)
OTHER ROLES
He was a founding member and head coach of Saint-Constant Speed Skating Club in Canada. He has also served as a coach at the Montreal Gadbois club in Canada, and in 2020 he joined the coaching staff at the Calgary Speed Skating Association in Canada. (calgaryspeedskating.ca, 22 Sep 2020; lapresse.ca, 20 Jan 2020; LinkedIn profile, 2020)
He makes the sign of the cross when stepping onto the ice. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
He trains at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, AB, Canada.
Having competed in roller speed skating in Colombia, his cousin invited him to a short track training session shortly after arriving in Canada. He became more interested in the sport after attending the 2014 World Championships in Montreal, QC, Canada. "I was shocked by how they leaned over 45 degrees on the blades. And the passes were cool."
