On home ice, in front of family and friends and surrounded by her peers, Kim Boutin said an emotional goodbye to Short Track Speed Skating at a packed Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal on Sunday evening. 

A celebratory ceremony, which took place on the ice after the end of the  2026 ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships, featured a special presentation, an appreciative few words from Ron Weiser, President of Speed Skating Canada, and a magical video compiling highlights of Boutin’s magnificent career. Not to mention, endless cheering from the stands and from her fellow competitors.

Boutin, who won her sixth Olympic medal just a few weeks ago, had long promised that she would “quit with a big smile”. But in the end, there were more than a few tears. 

“I feel so much love from the stands, so I feel happy about that. I think I give a big legacy for Canada and Short Track,” a teary Boutin said. “I did for love of the sport and I feel like now I am going to enjoy the rest.

“I am really happy I leave that sport with an amazing crowd and amazing teammates.”

The numbers say plenty: Boutin having won six Olympic and 17 World Championship medals, not to mention more than 50 ISU World Cup and World Tour gongs. But just as importantly, she has left an indelible mark on all those around her. 

“She’s done great things for the sport, not only in Canada but the sport in general. She’s leaving behind a legacy for sure,” long-time teammate Courtney Sarault said of the woman who retires as Canada’s equal most successful winter Olympian of all-time, alongside fellow Short Tracker Charles Hamelin and Speed Skater Cindy Klassen. 

“We’ve been side-by-side and I am happy to just share a part of her career with her. I wish her the best in the future but we are going to miss her on the team that’s for sure.” 

The fact it all came to an end in Montreal was fitting, given it was here Boutin first made her mark on the global stage by claiming bronze in the 1500m at the 2018 ISU World Championships. 

Powerful and blessed with a superb technique, Boutin excelled across the distances. Remarkably, she won World Cup, World Championship and Olympic medals in each of the 500m, 1000m and 1500m. 

“I am pretty happy about my career,” Boutin said. “It was so much fun competing in high level sports, you learn so much about yourself and others.”

Kim Boutin skates ahead of Jinyu Li in the women's 1000 meter quarterfinals during the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships at Maurice Richard Arena on March 18, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.© Getty Images

Amongst a crowded field, the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games stands out. There, the then 23-year-old won bronze in both the 500m and 1500m, before taking silver in the 1000m. In the process she became Canada’s first female Short Track Speed Skater to win three medals at a single Games. Later, she would add a first individual World Championship title, taking 500m gold in 2024 and she would break the 500m world record in 2019. 

“Just a brilliant racer, so strong, so explosive,” Belgium’s Hanne Desmet said, after watching her friend and rival bow out. “She’s an amazing skater, both on and off the ice.” 

Double Olympic medallist Desmet not only spent years competing with Boutin, she also had the opportunity to train with the Canadian for several seasons. 

“She works super hard, so she’s good to push you to the next level,” Desmet said with a smile, before adding, “but at the same time she’s kind.”

This mixture of total dedication to her sport, alongside an equal commitment to everyone’s happiness shines through. This naturally made her a long-time mainstay of a Canadian women’s relay team that broke new ground. 

Way back in the 2019/20 season Boutin helped a Canada quartet win a first World Cup gold in more than five years and that was just the start. World Cup and latterly World Tour relay golds flowed regularly and then in Beijing in 2025 she led Canada to a brilliant World Championship gold. All that before the Olympic bronze in Milan. 

Bronze medalists of Women's 3000m Relay, Team Canada pose for a photo on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Short Track Speed Skating Women's 3000m Relay in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games in February, 2026 in Milan, Italy. © Getty Images

“I mean, she's had an amazing career, she's got six Olympic medals, completely insane,” fellow skater and long-time partner Steven Dubois said. 

“She can look back and be really proud. I know I am super proud of her.” 

He is not alone, with the whole Short Track community grateful for everything Boutin has done. 

“Kim Boutin has been an inspiration to athletes at all levels way beyond the borders of Canada, for all that she has achieved in Short Track,” Jae Youl Kim, ISU President, said. 

“Her impact, skill, incredible resilience and sporting success across well over a decade of high performance on the global stage has been significant and being so prolific as to win six Olympic medals leaves a brilliant and long-lasting legacy in our sport.

“Congratulations on a fantastic career.”

When asked what she was most looking forward to about retirement, Boutin had an unequivocal answer. 

“It’s going to sound weird but wine, enjoying the food and the wine is going to be my next few months,” she said laughing.

“It’s the right time to say goodbye.”