Laurent Dubreuil's Power Explosion in Milan 2026
While the winter cold holds Italy in its grip, we are all looking towards the Milan-Cortina ice rink. The name currently buzzing everywhere is that of Laurent Dubreuil. The 33-year-old skater from Lévis is on the eve of a crucial moment in his career. After his silver medal in the 1000 meters in Beijing 2022, the hunger for gold has only grown. At Miss Salsa, we always keep an eye on these kinds of top sports performances because although skating and salsa seem miles apart at first glance, the foundation of movement is identical.
Dubreuil is no stranger to the world of long-track speed skating. With eight medals at the world championships, including three golds, he has proven that he belongs to the absolute world elite. In a recent report from Ma Beauce, it becomes clear that the pressure is high, but Dubreuil seems ready for it. For a dancer, it is fascinating to see how he doses his power. In my 30 years of experience as a dance instructor, I have often drawn parallels between the explosiveness of a sprinter and the 'spin' of a salsa dancer. It’s about that fraction of a second where technique and raw power come together.
The Artistic Side of the Ice: Gilles and Poirier
What makes this specific moment in the Olympic cycle extra interesting for the dance world is the overlap with figure skating. While Dubreuil prepares for his 1000 meters, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are competing in ice dance for a spot on the podium. According to information from La Presse, they are currently in third place after the rhythm dance, just behind the formidable competition from France and the United States.
Gilles and Poirier are now veterans in their field. At 34 years old and in their 15th season together, they show what 'partnership' truly means. In the ballroom and salsa world, we know that a good connection takes years to ripen. You can see from their movements that they trust each other blindly. That is the essence of dance, whether on a wooden floor in a sweaty club or on the smooth ice of an Olympic stadium. The technique they use in their 'rhythm dance' is technically not very different from what we do in a choreography: it's about timing, flow, and telling a story without words.
Why Dancers Should Watch Skaters
You might wonder what a salsa dancer can learn from a long-track speed skater like Laurent Dubreuil. The answer lies in the control over the center of gravity. Dubreuil must take corners at top speed where centrifugal force tries to push him off the track. He uses his core stability to stay upright and generate speed. This is exactly what we do during a fast double turn in salsa.
In practice, I often see that dancers struggle with their balance because they work too much from their shoulders. If you look at Dubreuil's posture, you see that everything comes from the hips and the diaphragm. That stability is the key to success in any form of movement. The way he puts his skates into the ice is comparable to the way we 'ground' our feet on the dance floor to get grip for a quick movement.
- Focus on the core: Both skaters and dancers draw their power from the center of their body.
- Mental resilience: Dubreuil is under enormous pressure to perform after his previous successes. You need that same focus during a performance or competition.
- Rhythm in speed: Even in an individual sprint, there is a cadence. The rhythm of the strokes determines the efficiency.
The Battle for Medals in Milan
The competition in Milan-Cortina is cutthroat. For Dubreuil, this is possibly one of his last chances for Olympic gold in the 1000 meters. He is taking on a younger generation that is getting faster and faster, but his experience and tactical insight give him an edge. I recognize this from the dance world: young dancers often have the energy and acrobatics, but the older generation brings a nuance and a 'feeling' that you cannot learn in a year.
We also see this dynamic in ice dancing. Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, who now compete for France, show a level of technical perfection that is almost intimidating. For Gilles and Poirier, who are possibly skating their last major tournament, it is a matter of giving everything and hoping that their artistic expression convinces the jury. It is that same tension I feel when I see a couple step onto the floor for a final: the technique is in the system, now the emotion must take over.
What We Can Take to the Dance Studio
Watching the Olympic Games, and specifically athletes like Laurent Dubreuil, reminds us that top sports and art forms like dance are inextricably linked. It requires discipline, sacrifice, and a constant drive for improvement. At Miss Salsa, we always emphasize the basics. Without a good basic technique, you cannot dance complex patterns, just as Dubreuil cannot break world records without the perfect skating stroke.
In my years in the dance world, I have seen many trends come and go, but the appreciation for athletic ability always remains. Whether it is the speed of a skater or the flexibility of a dance partner, it is about mastering your own body in space. The fact that Laurent Dubreuil comes from a city like Lévis, where sport and community are so closely linked (think of the local Festivent de Lévis which also appeared in the news), shows that success often stems from a strong foundation and a supportive environment.
Let's follow the performances on the ice closely in the coming days. Not only for the medal table, but especially to learn from the way these athletes move. There is a rhythm in the stroke of a skater that is suspiciously similar to the beat of the music we love so much. And who knows, maybe Dubreuil's power explosion will inspire you to give that next dance lesson just that little bit of extra energy.