‘Over the moon:’ White City’s Hudey ready for third Olympic appearance

Marsha Hudey is hoping the third time is the charm.

The 31-year-old product of White City is preparing for her third Winter Olympics, after appearances in Sochi, Russia in 2014 and Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018. Her best finish was a 10th in the women’s 500-metre speed skating event in Pyeongchang.

Now, Hudey is preparing to compete for Canada in the 500m event in Beijing, China.

“It was a lot different this time around, just because our Olympic trials were actually cancelled because of COVID over Christmas,” Hudey told the Green Zone’s Jamie Nye and Drew Remenda before she headed overseas.

“The team was basically picked based on our results from this past fall’s World Cup circuit, so it was a little anti-climactic. But at the same time, I’m still over the moon. It’s an incredible accomplishment and I’m very excited to be a part of this team.”

Especially since her idol is part of the Canadian entourage. Speed skating legend Catriona Le May Doan is Canada’s chef de mission in Beijing.

Hudey said she used to watch Le May Doan skate for the national team in the 500m back in the day, noting: “That was stardom for me.”

“It’s actually going to be so amazing having her as chef de mission with this team in Beijing just because that’s also a dream of hers that she’s realizing there, becoming chef de mission,” Hudey said. “She’s such a positive influence and role model and inspiration. It’s amazing.”

Hudey has come a long way from the youngster who started skating at age four in a pair of figure skates. Her father, two brothers and sister also competed as speed skaters, so she comes by her talent naturally.

Hudey won her first Canadian title in the 500m during the 2018-19 season and added a second last fall. She decided not to go into the bubble to compete in two World Cup events and the world single distances championships in January and February of last year, so the 2021 national championships were her first event since the 2020 world championships.

Now she’s gearing up the biggest event of the past four years.

“It has been so challenging over COVID,” Hudey said. “Even last year with not being on the ice a ton and just with all the restrictions and no competitions, I’ve definitely had my challenges just as much as anyone (in the sport) has had throughout this pandemic.

“But I think I’ve done a really good job in working with what I’ve got and continuing my training. I set up a little home gym last year, so I’ve done a lot more training from home and I’ve just been very fortunate to have certain supports in place that have been able to keep me going through COVID.”

In Beijing, she plans to stick with the things that have been successful for her in her career to date — even if she is on the biggest stage. She hopes to keep it all in perspective and focus on the things she’s good at.

Having said that, these Games are different. There have been political undertones to the Olympics in China, and these will be the first Winter Games held during the COVID era.

But no matter what the circumstances are this year, Hudey has two previous Olympic appearances on which to rely.

“The main thing as an athlete and being in the village is, especially when you’re preparing for your event, you’re not really doing much between going from where you’re sleeping and staying to where you’re eating to the event itself and doing your training and practising and back,” Hudey said.

“Your day-to-day (routine) holds a tight-knit circle anyway just because you’re trying to minimize distraction and trying to keep your nutrition and your rest and recovery and all of those things going to be at your best leading in.

“I don’t think that part will be too much different (from Sochi and Pyeongchang). I’m excited to just see what it all holds and what it all is.”