Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Sabrina Byrnes 
Local speed skater and gold medallist Alexie Therrien is looking to achieve her third gold medal at Ontario Cup #4 in Gloucester, Ontario Feb. 14-15.
The seven-year-old short track speed skater, who skates out of the Sudbury Sprinters Speed Skating Club, started skating when she was just five years old. This is the first year she has competed at the cup tournaments, and has achieved two gold medals in her first two competitions.
"She's done really, really well," said Therrien's head coach, Sharon Hreljac.
The head coach said that Therrien didn't know how to skate when she first started two years ago.
"When she came to us, she couldn't stand up," she said, commenting on how much the young skater has improved.
The peewee skater earned her first gold medal at Ontario Cup #2 in Belleville, on Dec. 13. This would be her first time competing at the Ontario Cup level. Her second gold achievement was at Ontario Cup #3 Jan. 3 in Kitchener, Waterloo.
Therrien said that she was pretty excited to capture both medals, and when asked if she thought she was going to win, she said you don't know unless you try. The speed skater said she is hoping to win another gold medal at the next Ontario Cup.
Therrien said the speed is what she likes about her sport.
"You have to go really fast, but it's not about the places, it's about the times," the seven-year-old skater said, noting that it's about accomplishing personal bests.
Hreljac said that they really stress with the young skaters that it's not about who you beat, it's about your own improvement. She said that they really just try and keep it fun for the skaters at this age.
She is confident that Therrien will do well though. She said that she should be in the top two for sure.
"I think winning the medal was a big confidence booster for her. She's been really eager since," Therrien's head coach said.
"She's athletic. She's competitive. She likes to get out there and go," she chuckled.
Hreljac said her goal for Therrien at the upcoming Ontario Cup would be to achieve a personal best in the 500m. She said she'd like to see her knock a  bit of time off that.
The head coach said that Therrien has a killer start and has the potential be the top in Ontario for quite awhile.
Therrien does enjoy other interests as well though, and Hrejlac said she should at such a young age.
The girl, who attends Pavillon de l'Avenir elementary school in Chelmsford, enjoys participating in gymnastics as well as dance.
Therrien, who said she would like to speed skate in the Olympics one day, will be competing in the provincial championships in Waterloo in March after competing at the upcoming Ontario Cup.
