Speedskater Jean fully healed from 2007 accident

Lyndon Little - National Post - September 18
VANCOUVER -- Olivier Jean admits to a few moments of doubt and despair. However, they didn't last for long.

The doubts came when Jean, a 24-year-old member of Canada's short track speedskating team, was lying in a Montreal hospital following surgery on his ankle - the result of a severe skate cut in an August, 2007 training accident that sliced through his Kevlar guard and severed a tendon.
Thursday, Jean proved he's all the way back as he completed three days of World Cup team trials at the Pacific Coliseum with a total of two victories and three second-places finishes. That was good enough to see him named by Speed Skating Canada to its team for this season's World Cup circuit, which begins with an event in Salt Lake City Oct. 17-19.

"I didn't just want to come back to compete. I wanted to come back to win. This was my first competition since the injury. I got the job done and I feel great."

Speed Skating Canada's high performance director Yves Hamelin was delighted with Jean's performance.

"We're really happy for Olivier," he said. "We knew the rehab went well, but you don't know for sure until he competes. We were very pleased with the commitment he showed and the effort he put in. It took a lot of work on his part."