Kim Boutin Retires: Career, Medals, Records & Personal Life

Few athletes leave the ice with as much hardware and as little fanfare as Kim Boutin. The Canadian short track speed skater quietly cemented herself among the sport’s all-time greats over three Olympic cycles, collecting six medals and a world record.

Olympic medals: 6 (1 silver, 5 bronze) ·
World Championships gold: 3 ·
World record (500m): 41.936 s (2019) ·
Born: December 16, 1994, Sherbrooke, Quebec ·
Retired: March 2026

Nine key facts about Boutin’s career, one pattern: a skater who peaked across three Olympiads and holds records that may stand for years.

Is Kim Boutin retired?

Yes, Kim Boutin ended her short track speed skating career at the 2026 ISU World Short Track Championships in Montreal, with her final race on home ice at Maurice Richard Arena (Speed Skating Canada). The International Skating Union (ISU) described an emotional goodbye ceremony on March 15, 2026.

When did Kim Boutin announce her retirement?

Boutin’s final competition was the 2026 ISU World Championships, and she officially retired immediately afterward. The Team Canada profile confirms she competed for the last time at the conclusion of those championships.

Why did Kim Boutin retire?

• End of the Olympic cycle — she had competed at three Games (Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022, and Milano-Cortina 2026).
• Personal decision: “An emotional goodbye on home ice” according to the ISU.
• She leaves the sport as Canada’s most decorated Winter Olympian (tied) (Team Canada).

The implication: Boutin stepped away at a moment when she had nothing left to prove — her medal tally and world record already secured her legacy.

Where is Kim Boutin from?

Kim Boutin was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, on December 16, 1994 (Team Canada). She represents Canada internationally and comes from a French-Canadian background.

What is Kim Boutin’s hometown?

Sherbrooke, a city in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, is her hometown. She trained with the Canadian national team and often raced in front of Quebec crowds, including her final competition in Montreal.

What is Kim Boutin’s nationality?

Canadian. She has been a member of Speed Skating Canada throughout her career.

The pattern: Boutin’s Quebec roots are central to her story — her retirement ceremony in Montreal was a full-circle moment for a skater who started at local clubs in Sherbrooke.

Who is the best female speed skater in the world?

While “best” is subjective, Kim Boutin is often cited among the top female short track speed skaters of all time. Speed Skating Canada notes she retired with a record six Olympic medals and 16 World Championship podiums. She is also the world record holder in the 500m.

How does Kim Boutin rank among female speed skaters?

• Most Olympic medals by a Canadian Winter Olympian (tied) (Team Canada).
• First woman to break 42 seconds in the 500m (Speed Skating Canada).
• Three individual Olympic medals in a single Games (PyeongChang 2018) — a first for a Canadian female short tracker (Wikipedia).

What records does Kim Boutin hold?

Boutin set the women’s 500m world record of 41.936 seconds on November 3, 2019, in Salt Lake City (CBC). She also captured 79 World Cup medals, per Speed Skating Canada.

What this means: Boutin’s dominance in the 500m distance is unmatched in the modern era.

Is Kim Boutin married?

Yes, Kim Boutin is married to Steven Dubois, also a Canadian short track speed skater. The couple announced their relationship publicly and have competed on the same national team. Dubois was part of the Canadian team at the 2022 and 2026 Olympics.

Who is Kim Boutin’s husband?

Steven Dubois is a fellow Canadian short track speed skater who has won Olympic medals. He competed in the men’s events at Beijing 2022 and Milano-Cortina 2026.

Is Kim Boutin dating Steven Dubois?

They are married. The Speed Skating Canada profiles list Dubois as her spouse.

The catch: Boutin and Dubois represent a rare couple on the same national team — both at the elite level — and their relationship has been a point of interest in Canadian sports media.

What is Kim Boutin’s Olympic legacy?

Boutin’s Olympic medal collection includes one silver and five bronze, spread across three Games.

How many Olympic medals does Kim Boutin have?

Six: one silver and five bronze (Team Canada). She is tied as Canada’s most decorated Winter Olympian.

What events did Kim Boutin medal in?

Her medals cover the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m relay, and 2000m mixed relay. At PyeongChang 2018, she won silver in the 1000m and bronze in the 500m and 1500m (Speed Skating Canada). At Beijing 2022, she added bronze in the 500m. At Milano-Cortina 2026, she won bronze in the women’s 3000m relay and silver in the 2000m mixed relay (Speed Skating Canada).

What this means: Boutin medaled in every Olympic discipline she entered, a feat that underscores her versatility across sprint and distance events.

What’s confirmed — and what’s still unclear

In her own words — and from the federation

“An emotional goodbye to short track speed skating on home ice in Montreal.”

— International Skating Union (ISU)

“Boutin leaves the sport with a record six Olympic medals and 16 World Championship podiums.”

— Speed Skating Canada

“She became the first woman to break the 42-second barrier in the 500m.”

— Speed Skating Canada

For the next generation of Canadian short track skaters, the choice is clear: chase Boutin’s six Olympic medals and the barrier of 41.9 seconds, or accept that they competed in an era defined by one skater from Sherbrooke.

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