Kelsey Mitchell & Lauriane Genest Interview
We have a big double interview today as we talk to Canadian track cyclists Lauriane Genest and Kelsey Mitchell. Lauriane and Kelsey met each other at an RBC Training Ground event several years, and both went on to medal in Tokyo last year. We talk about their meeting on a training bike when neither of them had ever thought of cycling before, their experience of competing against each other and separately in Tokyo, as well as find out what other sports they may have tried out since their first Olympics. They're Canada's new cycling duo, and they bring twice as the entertainment as usual on our latest episode.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Please note this is an automated transcript that may contain errors.
COLIN HILDING: We are back for another episode of Off The Podium and another athlete, or we'll just say, athletes interview. Athletes plural, two of them. We got two of them today. We're doubling down as we're talking to two medallists, two Canadian medallists from Tokyo, Lauriane Genest and Kelsey Mitchell. They both made their Olympic debut in Tokyo and both walked away with medals. And what makes their story so much more interesting is that during the prior Olympics Rio, neither of them were cyclists. Neither of them were involved in the sport in any way, neither of them had ambitions to be in the sport. So within just four years, they both got into the sport literally at the same time and both ended up walking away with a medal. And we're so lucky to not only be able to talk to them both, but to be able to talk to them both at the same time, is that they basically shared this experience from day one, having met on the first day where they tried out for the program that eventually would place them on the track cycling team. And you're also going to hear in this interview about where they did come from, the sports that they were involved in that they originally thought that they could potentially have gone into the Olympics for, as well as maybe a little bit of a tease if there's any potential of them crossing over to other sports in the future. And aside from being teammates for Team Canada, Kelsey and Lauriane actually did get to compete against each other in Tokyo as well. So they get to break down for us what it was like to not only compete against each other as teammates, as friends, but also as competitors. So let's get into it. Canadian track cyclists Kelsey Mitchell and Lauriane Genest.
COLIN HILDING: Well, we're thrilled to talk to any athletes from my home country, Canada. Even more thrilled to talk to athletes who are really only a couple months removed from the most delayed games in very recent memory, the Tokyo Olympics. And we have double the pleasure today of being able to talk to two medallists that Canada had in the track cycling back in Tokyo. We have the bronze medallist in the Kirin, Lauriane Genest, and we have gold medallist in the women's sprint, Kelsey Mitchell. Welcome both of you to Off The Podium, and thanks for doing this at the same time too, killing two birds with one stone.
LAURIANE GENEST: Thanks for having us.
COLIN HILDING: Now, I find it interesting with the Tokyo Games especially, because it is such a different games. We'll kind of get your take on that later on, but we always like to find out before we start this about your history in the sport. Now, I kind of know just from being here in Canada and seeing a lot of media, you both have kind of interesting story about how you got into cycling in the first place, but if you just want to kind of fill everybody in, because it is kind of a unique story, and I guess a more recent thing for both of you.
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, I can start. I was a figure skater. I did figure skating my whole childhood from like six until I was 17, 18 years old. And one summer, I really wanted to try something new, and I tried cycling, road cycling with my dad, and I really loved it, and just instantly really wanted to be more competitive in the sport. And a couple months after, I heard about RBC Training Ground, and it really got me to the national team really quickly, and the process just happened really fast. And I actually met for the first time Kelsey at this event at RBC Training Ground, and we didn't know we would end up here together today, but we were actually paddling side by side at this event. Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: And Kelsey, for you, I think it's a very similar story too, like not involved in cycling at all, and you just kind of fell into it partly through this training ground.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, playing sports my whole life, soccer was my favourite, but graduated and finished my five years of eligibility for post-secondary and was just kind of lost and didn't want to be done with sports. So attended the RBC Training Ground where I got to meet Lauriane. And Cycling Canada was there and said I had potential, and I ended up signing with them. And we've been training side by side for the past three years. And yeah, we ended up both making it to the Olympics and both getting a medal. And yeah, it's a pretty crazy story.
COLIN HILDING: Yeah, we started this show actually around the time of Tokyo, or sorry, of Rio. And during our coverage of Rio, I was mentioning there's a lot of stuff on TV about this RBC Training Ground and saying it kind of sounds like, oh, this is gonna be something maybe by Paris, we're gonna be seeing some results from it. Really, you two are examples of how well this has worked. And just to kind of fill people in on what this is, I mean, it basically does exactly what it did for both of you. It identifies your strengths maybe in sports that you wouldn't necessarily have gone out for or even had experience in. So with Lauriane, with you, you said you had already done some cycling, but was the idea of track cycling as opposed to road cycling, was it something you even explored before attending this?
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, I did explore it. The coach that was running the club I was in for road cycling saw I could have potential on the track, and I had tried it before, but RBC just really helped to like, the process was just so fast, and to have cycling Canada there and being able to see what you could potentially do in a couple of months or in a year and see that you have the potential to be one of the best, that's what's really amazing with the RBC Training Ground program as well.
COLIN HILDING: And one of the other things that's unique about this is in identifying athletes, if I'm right, there's kind of an age restriction to this as well. They want to go for young athletes because they want to know, okay, you have the time and the energy and age left in you to be able to have a long career. Kelsey, with you, I mean, you were kind of reaching the top end of their very...
KELSEY MITCHELL: I was old.
COLIN HILDING: Which is weird to say because when you read up on this, their cutoff is what, 24 years old? And how are we, 22 or 23 when you attended this?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, I think it's 15 to 25 now, and I attended at 23, and so I was definitely one of the older ones there. I was surrounded by 15, 16-year-olds whose mum signed them up and made them be there, but yeah, I was committed to the whole process. It was kind of my last chance to continue to be an athlete, and so I bought in completely to it. I trained for it, flew across the country to attend, and I was open to any sport, and it was actually the first event I did. It was a vertical jump, and there was Cycling Canada rep there, and he pulled me aside and really said I had the potential and pushed for me, and he was right. Yeah, I'm a big fan of the program. It completely changed my life, and so yeah.
COLIN HILDING: Was cycling something that you had thought about or even seen any potential in yourself prior to doing this?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Honestly, no, just because I hadn't biked since I was a kid, and all the sports I did were running. There is a velodrome actually in Edmonton. I had never ridden it or really seen it, but yeah, cycling just wasn't something that was in my life and I wasn't around it. But yeah, like I said, I was just so open to anything, and they said I had potential, and I had a good natural pedal stroke, and so I just went with it, and yeah, it worked out.
COLIN HILDING: And I'm guessing they also test you for other things. It's not just, okay, well, here's one thing we see potential in. What were some of the other things that you ran through? Were there any other sports that were identified for either of you, where they said, you know, cycling would probably be the best, but as a backup, this is another option we want to kind of explore more?
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, they like test strength, power, endurance, speed, and speed. So the federation can actually see what you'd be good at. For me, I think I remember rugby reached out, but I never tried it. So after they reach out, what's cool is they invite you to basically join them for a day or a couple of hours and try the sport and see if you could like it. Did you try any?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah. So honestly, I was thinking that bobsled would be interested in me. I just had the build for it and I was pretty explosive. But they reached out and same with cycling and athletics as well. So it's quite interesting that rugby is actually a sport that's interested because it seems like that'd be something you'd need to start as a kid and kind of learn how to play and stuff like figure skating or soccer would be as well. So the sports are more so power based or if you're against the clock versus knowing the game and tactics and stuff. So it'd be like speed skating, cycling, bobsled, skeleton, athletics. There's a few more, I can't think of them, but those kind of sports that you may be able to start at a later age.
COLIN HILDING: And for a lot of these other sports, were there any that interested you? Like you mentioned some of the winter sports. Were there any that you thought, oh, this is something that I would love to try and maybe just you haven't gotten there yet. You still have a chance going forward. I mean, bobsled is kind of known for for taking athletes from other sports, right?
LAURIANE GENEST: She just tried speed skating like a week ago.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, I tried speed skating and I'm like, how hard can it be? Skating in a circle? Yeah, it's hard. It's tricky. It's different. And nobody knew me where I was trying it. And they're like, yeah, I was like, oh, I'm going to be sore. And they're like, yeah, you need to have really strong legs to do speed skating. I'm like, okay. Like I train legs every day. But it's definitely very different. There are similarities. But yeah, who knows? Who knows? Right now, I think focus is cycling. And I mean, Paris is right around the corner. So that's where our heads at.
COLIN HILDING: And based on both of your histories, I mean, question for both of you, did you have goals that you just wanted to be in sports in general, or was the Olympic something that you always looked towards, like I want to eventually be an Olympian. And this is sort of how you got there, just seeing what opportunities you had outside of your typical sports.
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, I think we both really, or for me, I like always dreamed about the Olympics and always wanted to be an Olympian. It was just my biggest dream since I'm, since as long as I can remember. So to just actually be there last summer in Tokyo and like live that dream was pretty crazy. And to do it with you, it was even better.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, representing Canada at the Olympics is such a dream for so many athletes, definitely on the top of the list for accomplishments. But I just wasn't ready to be done being an athlete. And so the fact that I get to train and work out every single day and travel the world and race and compete, I'm living my dream every single day. And it's, yeah, it's perfect.
COLIN HILDING: So what is the typical, I guess, the rate of acceleration for somebody who enters this sport? Because both of you are kind of living examples. Like, if you're made for this, if you're good at it, if you put the work in, a couple of years turnaround, you can be Olympic medallist. But is that typical that cycling is something that's like you get into and you can get to the World Cup level and you can get to the Olympic level really quickly?
KELSEY MITCHELL: I think we both were pretty lucky when we came in. There was some depth in the women's side, but right now, we're strong. We got four really strong girls that all actually came through RBC Training Grounds. But it's competitive and we're definitely right up there with the top in the world, all four of us. And so now it would definitely be harder to break into the Canadian team for sprint cycling. But I mean, you never know. And like we're seeing athletes come through the program still that are showing a lot of potential for cycling. And so, I mean, maybe not Paris 2024, that's in two years, but maybe the LA after that.
COLIN HILDING: And how were the delay of the games something that like affecting you either through maybe not being able to have the regular competitions you would normally have to get ready for something like this or even training? How did that extra year you had, maybe in your cases, it was kind of a benefit. You had an extra year to kind of develop in the sport. What was it like when you found out that there'd be a delay in these games? And then I guess what were, I guess, what the positives and the negatives kind of went along with that?
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, like you said, I think for both of us, it was actually kind of a blessing that we had this extra year and a half to just train more and learn more about the sport. And during COVID, it was, we didn't have the track with the velodrome. We didn't have access. So we were just like training on trainers and doing gym in the garage. But we were actually being able to be really serious and motivated to prepare the games. And like we always had that goal. And even if it was like further, we still had that same goal. So I think we like really pushed really hard during those months. And it was it actually made us very much stronger, I think at the end of the day. Yeah.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, I think when we found out initially, we like found out we had locked in two spots for Canada. And then maybe two weeks later, three weeks later, we found out Canada wasn't going to go, regardless of if it happened. And then a few days later, it was cancelled, postponed. And so I think the emotional roller coaster lasted about like three weeks. And then we both were just kind of like, okay, one more year to, more than a year to get even better and even faster and stronger. And we knew we were competitive with some of the best in the world at that time. And so we knew we had a lot of room to grow and get faster. And we just had to put the work in. And that's what we did. And yeah, paid off.
LAURIANE GENEST: Like, I don't know if the Olympics would have happened. Like, in 2020, I don't think the results would have been the same. I'm not sure.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, we both would have got fourth probably.
COLIN HILDING: Well, that's another interesting thing, because when we started this show back during Rio, we used to call fourth place the Canadian gold, because Canada would miss the podium, and then all of a sudden, Tokyo comes around and we thought the Rio was huge results for Summer Olympics Canada. And then Tokyo, I mean, it was the most medals that Canada has ever won, if you don't count Los Angeles, you know, really, the most Summer Olympic medals. I mean, Canada is kind of through both of your success. I mean, you can claim you put Canada over the top, you know, you gave Canada the most successful games ever. Did it feel like that? Or were you even aware that going in that this could potentially be such a successful games for Canada in probably the wrong Olympics? You know, it's not winter, it's summer.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, I mean, it was hard to know. No one knew where anyone else was at in the rest of the world. And like for cycling, for us, we're already at a bit of a disadvantage just because we don't get the races every weekend like you do in Europe and they're competitive. And yeah, they just are used to seeing each other and competing against each other, where we're used to maybe racing them three, four times in the year. And other than that, we're training. And so they were forced to just train and we're like, well, we're used to this. And yeah, we had no idea where anyone else was going to be at. And we put the work in. They did too, but it worked out for us.
COLIN HILDING: And in track cycling, it's becoming more common in all sports now, but you have the multiple events you can compete in. Did you know going in, these are the events, is there a decision made higher up than you? Okay, Kelsey, you're going to do this. Lauriane, you're going to do this. You're both going to do this one. How much notice do you have knowing which events you're going to prepare for?
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, we knew quite a bit ahead. So when we finished World Championships in March 2020, just like it was just finished like today, and we learned that we qualified for the Olympics two years ago. And when we learned that, we knew exactly the spots we had. So we knew that we would both race Sprint and Karen. And unfortunately, we couldn't race Team Sprint, which we were looking forward to competing in Tokyo. But we just really were happy to have two spots because it was really tight.
KELSEY MITCHELL: It came down to literally the last possible race, and we weren't even in it. We were watching to see what the results were for other countries. And then we saw that we were going to qualify, and she's balling in my arms, and our coach is hugging us. And it was like 20 minutes of people being like, what's wrong with them? But we were just, yeah, it was a very emotional, exciting moment.
COLIN HILDING: They're new to this. They're figure skaters, soccer players. They're like, what's happening right now? I actually had a chance this afternoon to go back and watch both of your medal wins. And I think one of the things that's really interesting here is this isn't technically the first time we've done an interview with two athletes at the same time. It is the first time we've done an interview with two athletes at the same time who competed against each other. Because I think that's the one unique thing is that your teammates, you're obviously very tight. You're literally in the same environment right now sitting next to each other. There's no bad blood. But I mean, you do compete against each other. And the last interview we did was just with an Australian mogul skier. And she was saying like, you know, it's kind of weird because I have my teammates, but they're also my competition. And it's really the same with you. I mean, how is that balanced? Do you go into a race when you're going into the Kirin and you knew, okay, we're in the semifinals against each other, it was me or you or do you kind of root for the other person? If it's not going to be me, I hope it's them.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, I mean, the Kirin, we were pumped to both be in the final. I think that was a huge win right there for both of us. And my race didn't go as planned. And I saw everyone come over me and I saw Low come over me. And in my head, I think I just kind of like, I didn't stop pedaling, but I knew I was dying out and I just did a switch and I'm like, come on, Low. And yeah, I got front row seats to watch her win bronze. And it was, yeah, incredible. Exactly like what you said, if it's not going to be me, I'm so, so happy that it's her and was able to see it happen. And yeah, seeing her up on the podium was very emotional. But yeah, it definitely motivated me to like, go for it in the sprint and hopefully be able to bring another medal home. And so, yeah, it's a, it's a, it's a fine line.
LAURIANE GENEST: I think you're definitely like, like you want yourself to like do the best. So if we're in the final together, I want to win, but I know she wants to win too. But if I have a bad race and she has a good race, then like, oh, 100% be happy for her. And like that was her day. That was, that was a race and she did great. So that's amazing. Right. And we like both, what's amazing is that we both have our moments at the Olympics. So that was pretty amazing to both like live this moment of like winning an Olympic medal.
KELSEY MITCHELL: And we both got to be like a part of it. Like we were in the final together with the Kieran, and then I raced, we raced against each other. And unfortunately, in the quarterfinals, the plan was to be on the podium together. But it was just, yeah, we were a part of each other's journey to the podium.
COLIN HILDING: And that's something that's always exciting for Canada. I mean, I put a lot of late nights during Tokyo staying up all night. And every time they would cut back, it's like, we got two Canadians here. And I'm like, all right, so, you know, I can't pick a favourite or anything, but I know that we're going to advance. We have a chance now.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, exactly. That was the thing. It was a quarter. Yeah, it was quarters. So one of us for sure was going to be going for a medal. And so it's like, I don't even know how my coach or like our coach was handling it. He's probably just like, do your best. Yeah. So it was, it was, yeah, it was fine. We were, we were good and we're good now.
LAURIANE GENEST: And I was like, weirdly good.
COLIN HILDING: Like, would it have been different if it was the semis or like, if it was, if it was for the bronze medal, where, you know, one of us is winning a medal, the other, it wouldn't, would that, would that make it more intense? Would you guys get a little bit more competitive then?
LAURIANE GENEST: I don't think I could get more competitive than I was. Yeah. I did. I raced one of my best race actually against her in quarters. And I didn't make it easy. So I, we like really try their best, but yeah. If it was for a medal, I think.
COLIN HILDING: Well, one thing that I found with track cycling, as opposed to, let's say regular sprinting, like track sprinting, or even speed skating, speed skating would probably be the sport that this is most similar to, just the layout and everything, is that there's a lot more watching the competition, I find, in track cycling, as opposed to like speed skaters, that they're just focused ahead. And every once in a while, you get somebody like Andre de Grasse, who's going to glance over really quickly. But I mean, when you guys are racing, even each other, you're looking over your shoulder, you see somebody coming up. I mean, are you always sort of aware of who's making a move, you know, what's going on around you?
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, you try to know what kind of everyone's game and like everyone's strengths and weaknesses and like, what's your game plan and how you're going to execute the race. I think match sprint is probably a little easier because you only got one person to look at and know where they are on the track as the Kieran, there's six of us. So it's kind of impossible to know what everyone's doing. But yeah, I think that's like you said, that's what is cool about track cycling. It's not just like it's a sport that is based on speed and going fast, but it's also so tactical and like it adds to the sport. And at first, I didn't really like it, but when you like start to understand and like, it's kind of cool actually, because it adds something to it.
COLIN HILDING: Now, the differences with the Kieran and the sprint, one thing with the Kieran, like you said, you've got six people or sometimes seven in the finals. Whereas in the sprint, I mean, in your case, Kelsey, you knew going into that finals, you were getting a medal. And I always find it interesting when you have people who are in that one-on-one competition where to find out whether or not if you're going into that gold medal match, are you thinking, you know what, I've come out of this with a medal, or if you end up winning the silver, do you think that hurts a little bit more? I mean, you were lucky enough to win the gold, but what's kind of the mind process going in, knowing I've got a medal, but I could end up winning a medal but being the loser? Like, is there something that actually connects in your head when you go into that?
KELSEY MITCHELL: I mean, I wanted the win. I wanted to stand on the top step and see the Canadian flag go up and hear the anthem. I think to, I mean, the Ukraine raced really well, and she was tough, but my biggest, after my race against you, my second biggest race was probably against the Germans in the semis. She was the reigning champion. She's beaten me multiple times before. And so that was kind of where all my focus was. And I had a night to think about it and know I was racing her next. And I took it to three, which I always seem to do. And after the second one, after the second round, we both looked over and could see her and she looked tired. She was okay. And then obviously after that, I'm like, there's the hardest part. There's no way I'm going out of here without a gold.
COLIN HILDING: So you were kind of in a good position where you didn't have to worry about the silver as much. I'm sure there's always something in the back of your head, but you were able to have that little boost of confidence.
KELSEY MITCHELL: I mean, yeah, anyone can be anyone any given day. And the Ukrainian was racing so, so well, and she's like the opposite kind of riders as me. And so I had to, I was racing all my races from the back, and in the final, she was not making that easy. And so I took the front and was able to win still. But yeah, I mean, I wasn't relieved until I was standing on the top step, but I was very happy I didn't go to three rounds and won it in two. But yeah, I don't know. It was mentally, this sport is very tough as well.
LAURIANE GENEST: It would have been even better if you would have gone to three.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Three rides back to back is very hard on the body. Oh, I can imagine.
COLIN HILDING: One of the things I think is unique about the Kirin is that 50% of your race is almost just pace setting. And I don't know, is that more design that way where you have those laps just to kind of warm up? What are sort of the rules? Like you have to completely maintain your position, obviously no passing and everything like that. Can you kind of explain the reasoning behind those first 50% really of the race, just sort of being stay in your spots and then get ready to move? And then what's it like when you know, okay, now I got to make a move and you have only three laps to finish?
LAURIANE GENEST: It's a good question. I actually don't really know what those three laps are for. It's obviously to build up speed. So we'll start from zero to the motor will drop us after three laps at 50K. So then it kind of starts the race and away. I'm guessing it's so we go faster. It's like more fun to watch, more fun for the public as if we were starting from zero. And then it's really depends on what kind of rider you are. And in the Karen, you kind of have only one move. It's like you really have to commit or even in the like individual sprint. Our events are like so short and so quick that you have one move and you have to commit to that move. Otherwise, it's not really going to work out. So it's the Karen's fun because it's really like you can, depends on so much things and some people will go long. So the motor will pull off and someone will attack with three laps to go. And other people will just stay at the back and draft as much as possible and save energy and then go with one lap to go, one lap and a half to go. So there's just so much happening and you really got to race with your strengths basically.
COLIN HILDING: Now, this being the first Olympics for both of you, I don't know if this is even something that you would have as much perspective on, but competing at the Olympics with no crowds, really the crowds there were, were fellow athletes and stuff like that, no ability to have family members and everything come watch you. Was that different? Did you find maybe with some other teammates who had had multiple Olympics that it was harder for them?
KELSEY MITCHELL: I mean, yeah, that's, Tokyo is the only thing that we know. That's all we know about the Olympics, or from experience, but we were actually three hours away from the village, from Tokyo, and so COVID wasn't as bad there, and so we were allowed half capacity in the stands. So to us, we were used to training in a completely empty velodrome, so it felt packed to us, it felt loud, and there's at least 150 athletes and staff in the pits, maybe less than 100, in the pits, and so it felt like it was full, and it felt like there was tons of people, and so it was exciting. There was cameras everywhere. You see the Olympic rings, and everyone is at their absolute best, so the excitement was there, and it felt to us like a major event. Yeah, it was the Olympics, and to us it was massive, and definitely getting all the support from back home. I know it wasn't the best hours for Canada, but people were up watching, and yeah, it would have been nice to have family and friends there, but we had our teammates, we had the people that we've been training and stuck with for the past year leading up to it, they're right by us and celebrating with us. And so yeah, my experience was good.
LAURIANE GENEST: I liked it. Yeah, I think, like you said, because we were so used to empty Velogeo, that it didn't feel empty at all when we were at the Olympics. But the fact that maybe family wasn't there and friends weren't able to be there, maybe was the hardest part, but we knew they were cheering back home.
KELSEY MITCHELL: One thing, though, that was nice, is we were one of the last events to go, and I have a hard time, I feel like I don't like missing out, and if we were at the village, and we were supposed to be in our beds, resting, getting ready for the events that were going to come in a week, we had no choice, we had nothing else to do, so we just rested and got ready to race. So it was kind of, weirdly everything was just perfect, yeah.
COLIN HILDING: And it was late in the games, too. I mean, I think with yours, Kelsey, was that the final gold or even the final medal, I think, that Canada had for the Olympics?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, it was the final medal, which I didn't know. So that was cool, yeah.
COLIN HILDING: I was going to ask, because Lauriane, you were like maybe two days earlier than that, I think. So kind of at the end of that. But I mean, knowing that you're like, you are literally the athletes that pushed Canada over the edge. Knowing that after the fact has got to be a little bit, or even let's go along with the fact that track cycling is something that Canada's, we can always guarantee a medal in it, almost, with the exception of one or two games. But this is only the second time ever that Canada has won multiple medals in track cycling. And it was the two of you who did it, two people who literally met at a training ground event, not really even involved in the sport. I mean, that's got to be crazy in and of itself.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Well said. I mean, I don't even know what the expectations were. I mean, we were competitive on the circuit leading into the games, but then we hadn't raced for 500 days, more than 500 days until our last race before the Olympics. And so we just had no idea where anyone else was at, and neither they didn't know where we were at. And that was kind of our advantage. I think we had a lot more room to improve, where a lot of people have been cycling their whole life. And so they get a little bit faster, but we were learning how to race and how to tactically be better and stronger on the bike. And so, yeah, I think we surprised a lot of people and surprised ourselves. So, yeah, bring Canada two more medals home was something we'll never forget.
COLIN HILDING: And another crazy fact, I don't know if either of you have even thought about this, but we're just coming off the Winter Olympics, which is the second most medals Canada has ever gotten in Winter Olympics. The Summer Games, your Summer Games, you're only two medals behind Canada's second greatest Winter Olympic total of all time. And Winter Olympics had just finished, Canada wins four gold medals and seven gold medals in Tokyo. I mean, it's just bizarre as a Canadian to see, like, there's been this huge shift within the last two Olympics, where it's like summer athletes are, maybe they're getting more attention now, maybe there's more support through things like RBC Training Ground, or maybe it's just, you know, the right athletes coming around at the same time. But you guys are both part of history, too. I mean, it was a historic games.
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, it's pretty cool to think.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, it's incredible to see Canada get behind it, too. I think everyone was very excited. I mean, the media is insane now, like social media and the cameras and the networks that are airing it. Like, you can see everything from pictures and TikTok and Twitter. Everything, everything is everywhere. And so I think that it's doing a really good job on showing the athletes that are coming from small towns and people are getting behind them or place. Yeah, it just tells a good story. And I think Canada is buying into it and it's amazing to see. And I mean, sports is so important and I hope it keeps growing and it keeps going in that way.
COLIN HILDING: And I don't know if you're aware of this. I've seen both of you have the RBC Training Ground videos, your video profiles. I know at least once or twice during the Olympics, I spotted yours, Kelsey, being aired on CBC during the Winter Olympics. Now, six months later, you're still on TV during the Off The Olympics.
KELSEY MITCHELL: I had to do a new voiceover and I got to change the script. It was like three words were changed, but it was from to attract cyclists and I changed it to an Olympic champion.
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah.
KELSEY MITCHELL: So every time the commercial is on, I make everyone be quiet in the room like, what's up?
COLIN HILDING: Did you get to retake yours, Lauriane?
LAURIANE GENEST: No, no, no.
COLIN HILDING: We have the final set of questions we're going to get to. One thing I want to quickly ask, this is we're on the topic of the Olympics without crowds and everything like that, is you mentioned the time of day was on. If I remember right, both of your medals were awarded, at least here in Central Time Zone, maybe between two and four in the morning. I mean, it was pretty early. They had the video wall, which they still did for Beijing, the family wall. Did either of your families stay up to watch this? Did you get to use that wall and see your families after the event was over?
LAURIANE GENEST: Mine wasn't.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yours was that night for them.
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah.
KELSEY MITCHELL: But I don't think so.
LAURIANE GENEST: No, we didn't have. Or at the track or the velodrome, they didn't have that. And then I don't know if they had it in other facilities in Tokyo.
COLIN HILDING: Yeah, there were families watched. Did you get instant feedback? Like, did you just immediately check your phone and got like 90 text messages?
LAURIANE GENEST: I was doing an interview with CBC or CBC in French, and my coach called my parents and my family during my interview, and they tapped on my shoulders during my interview. And that's like my family on FaceTime, and I'm like almost crying, and the camera's on me. So yeah, that was pretty cool. But I just remembered the Wi-Fi being so terrible and so much noise, and I couldn't hear anything. But just to see them, it was pretty cool.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, thank goodness for FaceTime. I was like, it was right after I won before the medal ceremony. I was doing doping control, and I had to like sit for 10 minutes to do the blood, and I FaceTime my parents, and we just kind of like stared at each other, and we're like, what the heck? But yeah, it's like they were there. It would have been amazing to see them in the stands, but they were able to watch it like with my grandparents, and like aunts, and like all extended family. So it was cool that they all got to be together.
COLIN HILDING: Now, trivia fact here, I don't know if either of you were aware of this. You probably weren't watching live while you were racing. In fact, I guarantee you weren't. But are you aware that during your semifinals, the Curen semifinals, that your names were swapped on the screen? That Lauriane, you were identified by Kelsey, and Kelsey was identified as Lauriane?
KELSEY MITCHELL: We look the same. She's 5'2, first place, or 5'9, same hair. We wore the same helmet. It really threw people off. Or else we didn't want that to happen again.
COLIN HILDING: Well, that's got to be the tough thing when you have two people from the same country. Normally, you could just look at the uniform and know. But when you're wearing the helmets and everything, and especially if the TV is screwing up your names, I mean, it's amazing that, you know, Kelsey didn't go home with a bronze medal, and Lauriane, you go home with a gold medal. Do they know the difference?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: Before we get to the final set of questions, we always like to ask our guests this. Any special place that you keep your medal? What do you do with it afterwards? It's just going to sock drawer?
LAURIANE GENEST: I carried mine around for a long time, going back home and seeing people. I would just always have it with me, and everyone would want to see it, and they didn't really want to see me. They just wanted to see the medal.
KELSEY MITCHELL: It's like having a baby. People want to see the baby, not you. It's like, can we see your medal? And you're like, okay.
LAURIANE GENEST: But yeah, and I bring it home when I go back to my family home, and my brother, it's like on a little table, and my brother will wear it at time.
KELSEY MITCHELL: He's like, this feels cool.
LAURIANE GENEST: But yeah, otherwise, it's just sitting in my room.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, me too.
LAURIANE GENEST: Sometimes I look at it, I'd be like, whoa.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Remind ourselves, yeah.
COLIN HILDING: It's such a great design, too. We actually did an episode a couple months ago where we ranked all the Olympic medals from the last 20 years. Beijing's right up there. It's an incredible looking medal. That's something I would put it on display, but at the same time, I'd probably, I don't want to advertise. Is somebody going to try to snatch this?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, people have said, are you going to put it in a safe or lock it up or something? And I'm like, should we? It's cool to let people see it and hold it, though.
COLIN HILDING: And what's the weight of it like? Like when you're at the cloak, you both got to attend the closing ceremonies, right? You didn't. You were that close to the end of the Olympics. You didn't get to go to closing.
KELSEY MITCHELL: I raced the same day of closing. I actually raced in the morning. I was done at like noon-ish. And then closing was that evening, but it was...
LAURIANE GENEST: We were like two hours from the village. And we missed the bus.
KELSEY MITCHELL: We were tired.
LAURIANE GENEST: The metals were heavy.
KELSEY MITCHELL: We were like, we'll stay. We watched it on the TV. But other than that, we just soaked it all in from our little cardboard beds. Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: Oh, the cardboard beds.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: We had a lot of talk. Apparently, they were like pretty much unbreakable though, from what I heard.
KELSEY MITCHELL: They were fine. They were tiny. Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: Final set of questions we have here. So history here. Rio and Pyeongchang. What they did on the Olympic.ca website is they got a lot of the Olympians to fill out a questionnaire. They did it in their own handwriting. Some of it are sports related questions. Some of them are just fun questions. Some of them are pictures. But we were so disappointed they didn't do this for Tokyo because we got so much mileage off of this. But we always give the questionnaires to athletes. So we did have one winter athlete who kind of alluded towards the fact that they were given this questionnaire, but it never actually was released publicly or hasn't been yet. But I'm going to assume by the look on your face you guys haven't done this.
LAURIANE GENEST: No, no.
COLIN HILDING: Good, we're breaking ground. We've taken over from Olympic.ca. I'm actually going to use, I always like when I could use somebody that you might be familiar with. I've got Hugo Barrett here from Rio. Is Hugo a good guy? You know him, yeah. Is he a good guy? Do you expect much from this?
LAURIANE GENEST: He's okay.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, we love him. He actually lives in our house.
COLIN HILDING: Oh, really?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Not at the moment, but yeah.
COLIN HILDING: Yeah, I like when there's an athlete they're familiar with because if there's a dumb answer on here, then we can get your take on. So you can both answer, take whatever turn order you want. But first question, the first Olympics I remember watching was?
LAURIANE GENEST: Vancouver.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, 2010.
COLIN HILDING: Second question, if I could be any superhero, I would be?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Wait, we're answering for ourselves? Oh, okay. No, yeah.
COLIN HILDING: I could tell you what Hugo wrote, Noggino, and the flash is the superhero.
KELSEY MITCHELL: I don't know. I panicked. Okay, sorry.
COLIN HILDING: But superhero, what superhero would either of you be?
LAURIANE GENEST: I don't know superheroes.
COLIN HILDING: Olympians are superheroes.
LAURIANE GENEST: There you go. I'd be Kelsey Mitchell.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, I'd be Kelsey Mitchell. Um, I don't, yeah, I don't really know. Superman.
LAURIANE GENEST: Batman, Batman.
KELSEY MITCHELL: No, Superman, Superman. There you go.
COLIN HILDING: That would have been my answer, but both are acceptable, as is Kelsey Mitchell or Lauriane Genest. The next one, this, you can submit this if you want. We've actually had a couple athletes send us in later on, but it says, draw a picture of yourself. I'll just let you know, Hugo's is basically like a third grader's smiley face. So you put a lot of effort into this one. Next one, you could actually answer this. My favourite ice cream flavour is?
LAURIANE GENEST: What is it? Cookie dough? Cookie dough?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Yeah, with like vanilla based ice cream.
COLIN HILDING: These are the questions where I get really hungry.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, I know. I'm like, do I have any right now?
COLIN HILDING: If I were a baseball player, my walk up music would be, I mean, a couple of the sports get this like, you know, athletics gets their big intro and swimmers get their big intro. You don't have, you don't have it for cycling, but if you did, if you had a walk up music, what would your choice be?
KELSEY MITCHELL: I'm doing Up Roar by Lil Wayne.
COLIN HILDING: Lauriane's still thinking.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Something Celine probably.
COLIN HILDING: Hugo went with Enter Sandman by Metallica. That's an aggressive one.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: This one I'm curious about. The best nickname I've ever been called is.
LAURIANE GENEST: I mean, she's, we call her Big Mish.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, I'm still called it.
LAURIANE GENEST: And people call me Little Low. So this is kind of funny.
COLIN HILDING: Big and Little.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, very creative.
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: Next one's another drawing. Feel free to submit it later on if you want. But draw a picture of a Canadian animal. Hugo put a little bit more effort into this one. It's a pretty good moose. I'll say that. Here's one. If I weren't an athlete, then I would be.
LAURIANE GENEST: I would be travelling around the world.
KELSEY MITCHELL: You'd be a traveller.
LAURIANE GENEST: I'd be a traveller.
COLIN HILDING: Which you also are as an athlete too, so you're living the dream.
KELSEY MITCHELL: That's tough because we're definitely living the best life right now. Maybe we wouldn't rather do anything else. Maybe. Coach.
COLIN HILDING: There's your future. For the next RBC Training Ground athletes. The RBC Training Ground hosts. Just give you a new commercial every Olympics, right?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Exactly. Don't feature the athletes, just me.
COLIN HILDING: My guilty pleasure snack is?
KELSEY MITCHELL: I used to have chocolate covered pretzels, and I would dip them in peanut butter.
COLIN HILDING: You're a big peanut butter fan. I'll have to ask you, Lauriane, favourite chip flavour?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Miss Vicky something.
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, I think original.
COLIN HILDING: Now, as a Canadian, you have to give your opinion on this. Ketchup chips, yes or no?
LAURIANE GENEST: Yes.
KELSEY MITCHELL: I'm a no.
COLIN HILDING: You're a no. I will say this. I'm not huge on ketchup chips. I'm like, I'll eat it if it's around, but.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah. If it's there. Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: But there is a, I think it's an old Dutch. They have a spicy ketchup chip, which is amazing. I'm like, I will go out of my way to buy this one. So if you can handle spice, spicy ketchup chips, look for it. My favourite song lyric is, a specific lyric, anything?
LAURIANE GENEST: I'm terrible. No, I'm out for this one.
COLIN HILDING: This is literally the toughest question you could ever ask people.
KELSEY MITCHELL: What? I'm like thinking of raps, I'm like, this isn't inappropriate. Why do you think you know that I don't have anything?
COLIN HILDING: Hugo went old school on this. Don't stop believing from Journey. Appropriate one, but. He googled that.
KELSEY MITCHELL: He didn't know how to get that good answer.
COLIN HILDING: You know, it's funny, there's one swimmer, I won't mention the name on here, but we interviewed Kylie Mass a couple years ago, and we used another swimmer's base, and she's like, you know what, she's never that funny. She had help with this. And then we studied it, and we could see that the handwriting changes from one question to the next, but yes, she definitely had help.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Completely called out.
COLIN HILDING: Another picture one, what would the coolest Olympic medal look like? Hugo, Drew, it looks like a sun that's smiling. It's a smiling sunshine. Here's one, this is where I get my TV recommendations. The most recent TV show I binge watched is?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Actually, I have a good one. I watched it alone because they were gone to Spain. Euphoria, I watched Euphoria.
COLIN HILDING: Oh yeah, I haven't seen it yet, but I mean, it's on my Crave TV list.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, you should do it. It's kind of dark though, so it depends what kind of mood you're in, but yeah.
LAURIANE GENEST: You watched that by yourself?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Well, they were in Spain in the sun, and I was here, but that's okay, I'm fine.
LAURIANE GENEST: We always watch Friends. Friends is always on every day. I think we watched like two to three episodes, never gets old.
COLIN HILDING: You watched the reunion special of that?
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: Yeah.
LAURIANE GENEST: It was good, not great.
COLIN HILDING: Yeah, it was awkward at times, but the one takeaway I had from that, like, I'll admit, I haven't seen Friends in the longest time, but I'm like, well, this reunion special seems interesting. I'm going to check it out. Everybody always talks about Jennifer Aniston doesn't age. David Schwimmer doesn't look like he's aged today either.
KELSEY MITCHELL: They've all done so much work then.
COLIN HILDING: It's a very good point. Yeah. Some of their surgeries have just been better than others.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, we were so used to watching friends like every single day. So we saw them like that. And then we watched it. We're like, oh, I guess that's you age after 20 years.
COLIN HILDING: My favourite place in the world to compete is?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Canada. That's a good answer. Yeah. We actually have a World Cup. Our last World Cup ever was January 2020 in Milton. And we get a race at home again two and a half years later, about. Oh, yeah. Now we're pumped.
COLIN HILDING: Well, Hugo, Toronto. So I mean, we're all in agreement then Canada, right?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah.
LAURIANE GENEST: Toronto.
KELSEY MITCHELL: We agree. Yeah.
COLIN HILDING: My favourite video game is either of you video game fans?
LAURIANE GENEST: Not at all. Not one bit.
KELSEY MITCHELL: No, we don't do that.
COLIN HILDING: Hugo just wrote NHL. I don't think he knows which NHL game. Yeah, he doesn't game at all. Final question here. I can't live without.
KELSEY MITCHELL: This is such a tough question. It's like, do you go like deep and sentimental, or do you go like-
LAURIANE GENEST: Can't live without you. I can't live without, I don't think I could live without my phone.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, phone connects you with everyone.
COLIN HILDING: Unless there's bad wifi in Tokyo, right?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Actually, it was pretty good. It worked.
COLIN HILDING: It worked. That's all, checks the box. There we go. It worked.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah. Does it work? Yes.
COLIN HILDING: Now, before we let you go, anything you guys wanna plug? You mentioned events are gonna be coming up soon. Also, how can people follow you on social media?
KELSEY MITCHELL: I post a lot on Instagram, Kelsey.Mitchell9.
LAURIANE GENEST: Should I say English accent?
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, and Lauriane.Genest. 44. Lauriane Genest, 44.
LAURIANE GENEST: 44.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Yeah, that's French. And yeah, we're racing at home in Milton, Ontario, May 12th to 15th, this year. It'll be sold out on the show. Yeah, we're excited about it.
COLIN HILDING: I'm crossing my fingers. The CBC has some coverage of that, too, but new interest in the sport picking up. It's been a long time since, was it Lauriane Munser and Claire Hughes days? So the next generation led by RBC is here.
LAURIANE GENEST: Honestly.
COLIN HILDING: All right, so thank you both for joining us so much. And then we look forward to talking to you after Paris, when you're both gonna come back with multiple medals again, maybe even gold and silver in the same events.
LAURIANE GENEST: Yeah, that'd be pretty sweet.
KELSEY MITCHELL: Maybe a team sprint, we'll both have gold in the meantime.
LAURIANE GENEST: Just come home with three medals. Six medals.
COLIN HILDING: Everyone.
LAURIANE GENEST: Thank you so much.
COLIN HILDING: Big thanks to both Kelsey and Lauriane for taking the time to do the interview with us today. Very entertaining chat, and I'm looking forward to see what they are going to do when we get to Paris in a couple of years. I mean, who knows? With how things went for them in Tokyo, if they're not going to be medallists in track cycling, maybe they're going to end up being medallists in surfing, or sport climbing, or breakdancing, who knows? The options are endless for Kelsey and Lauriane. Going forward, we're going to continue bringing you more athlete interviews, as well as more special episodes on the Olympics that we'll have lined up over the next, I don't know, two years or so until we eventually get to Paris and we got another Olympics to cover. But along the way, I'm sure we're going to cover some stuff on the Commonwealth games, maybe even the Pan Am games for the first time ever. Just stay up to date on everything we have coming out. Make sure to subscribe to us wherever you can find us. And of course also like us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you listen to this interview and you want to watch this interview, then subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can watch our interview with Kelsey and Laurieanne, as well as any other ones we have coming out. One more time, thank you to Kelsey and Laurieanne. My name is Colin, and as always, a shout out to Jason Momoa, and remember to go loud.
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