Former teachers, students cheer on Courtney Sarault during school watch party

N.B. speed skater Courtney Sarault has earned the title of Canada’s most honoured medalist at Milano Cortina 2026.

Students and staff at Bernice MacNaughton High School in Moncton want Courtney Sarault to know she’ll always be a highlander.

Sarault’s former school held a watch party for the ‘Beast from the East’ to see if she could win a fifth medal.

One of her former teachers said she gets emotional every time Sarault races.

“I get teary eyed every time she races,” said Stacey Beaman. “I’m just so very proud of her. I get goosebumps just talking about her. She’s someone who had a dream and she’s gone for it.”

The short-track speed skating star from Moncton came into Friday with two silver and two bronze.

She won silver in Women’s 1000m and Mixed Relay and bronze in Women’s 3000m Relay and Women’s 500m

But before Olympic fame, the grad of 2018 made quite the impression on her teachers.

“When you talk about someone who’s very humble in what they do, that is Courtney, very coachable, very teachable,” said Beaman.

Students who have never met Sarault are in awe of what she’s accomplished.

“It’s been really exciting and also really inspiring just knowing that someone who was once in this building is now at the Olympics,” said Grade 11 student Laura Melendy.

Grade 12 student Layla Adams said it’s crazy to think about.

“She was walking our halls. She knows a lot of our teachers and now she’s somewhere far across the world doing something that most of us can’t even imagine doing,” added Adams.

With all the success Sarault has had at the winter games, there’s a real possibility the Monctonian will be named Canada’s flag bearer for the closing ceremonies on Sunday.

Melendy thinks she should.

“I think that would be really awesome and a great experience for her,” said Melendy.

Her former teacher had some stronger words.

“If they don’t award that to her something is wrong. This should be the person carrying the flag at the end of the Olympics this year,” said Beaman.

Edison Beaman also taught while Sarault attended Bernice MacNaughton and is a coach with the Codiac Cyclones, her old club.

“Courtney was the number one skater in the club when my daughter started skating and she’s someone my daughter looked up to then and still does now and we’re super proud of her,” said Wasson.

He also thinks Sarault should be the flag bearer for the closing ceremonies.

“Whether she wins a medal or not she’s the most deserving athlete I think but we are biased here,” said Wasson.

The 25-year-old skater made it to the semi-finals in the 1500m on Friday, but fell in what was her final race at the Olympics.

“Speed skating is a very vicious sport when things go bad,” said Wasson.

No matter what happened on the ice Friday in Milan, her fellow highlanders are very proud.

Fellow Olympian

The MacNaughton school community is also very proud of its other Olympian, Danielle Dorris.

The grad of 2020 is a para swimmer and has represented Canada at three Paralympics.

“We have so much pride,” said Beaman. “Courtney Sarault and Danielle Dorris are both names that are used frequently in my gym classes. I’m proud of both of those girls and we’re very humbled to know they came from MacNaughton and were Highlanders and they’re still Highlander at heart.”

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