Andrew Godbout Bio
Andrew Godbout was working as a software developer in Markham, Ontario in the winter of 2004 when a lunch hour outing with his co-workers would set the ball rolling on a wild career change. A cold spell that winter had frozen one of the local ponds in Markham and Andrew and his co-workers decided to have a lunch hour skate. The only skates Andrew owned was a pair of short track speed skates, and he had not tried them on in 5 years.
In his youth Andrew skated with the Dartmouth Speedskating Club in Dartmouth, NS. His last competition was the 1999 Canada Winter Games where Andrew was the top Nova Scotian male in the competition. After the Canada Games Andrew stopped skating and attended Saint Mary’s University graduating in 2003 with a First Class Double Honor’s Degree in Computing Science and Mathematics.
5 Years since he last skated and his skates still fit, so off he went at lunch to take a spin on his long blades. His co-workers were quite impressed with the skates, one of them so much so he researched the local Markham Speed Skating Club where he could rent speed skates and take some lessons. He asked Andrew to attend the club with him.After attending a practice Andrew realized that the club could use a bit of help coaching and offered his services. They were happy to have the help. Andrew soon became the head coach of the club and helped develop a strong core of competitive skaters. One of the skaters at the club mentioned to Andrew that he was going to start an inline speed skating club in Markham and was hoping Andrew and some of the ice skaters would join the club. Having always wanted to try inline speed skates, Andrew signed up and started training and racing on wheels.
Andrew became the 2005 Canadian 300m Inline Champion and was recruited to try out for a new program in Canada, the Own the Podium recruitment program. This program was aimed at introducing new athletes into long track speed skating with potential for the 2010 Olympics. Andrew tried out for and was subsequently invited into this Calgary based program in February 2006. Excited and enthusiastic Andrew accepted the invite and put his software development career on hold to pursue Olympic Glory. Andrew traded in his short track and inline skates for the klap skates used in Long track and made the move to Calgary, Alberta.
Since making the move to Calgary Andrew has continued improving and moving up the Canadian ranks in each of his seasons of long track. Andrew currently ranks in the top 10 in Canada in 5000m and 10000m. In November of 2008 he became the first Nova Scotian to represent Canada on the World Cup circuit when he raced the 10000m in Moscow Russia. Andrew is looking forward to the next year leading up to the Olympics in Vancouver.