Few winter athletes pack as much speed and drama into a single sweep of ice as Canada’s Kim Boutin. She owns four Olympic medals, a 500m world record, and we stack her numbers against speed skating titans Eric Heiden and Bonnie Blair.
Olympic medals: 4 ·
World record: 500m short track ·
Born: December 16, 1994
Quick snapshot
- Four Olympic medals across two Games (Olympic.ca – Canada’s Olympic team)
- World record in the 500m short track (ISU Skating – international governing body)
- Born December 16, 1994, in Sherbrooke, Quebec (Olympic.ca)
- Exact net worth (no verified public figure)
- Official retirement date (Boutin has not announced a schedule)
- Marital status (relationship reported but not formally confirmed)
- 2018 PyeongChang: silver (1000m), bronze (500m, 1500m) (Olympic.ca)
- 2022 Beijing: bronze (500m) (Olympic.ca)
- 2019: set the 500m world record (ISU Skating)
- Boutin may target Milano Cortina 2026 if she delays retirement (ISU Skating)
- Speculation continues about her stepping into coaching (ISU Skating)
Here is a tight capsule of Boutin’s key stats.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kim Boutin |
| Date of birth | December 16, 1994 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Sport | Short track speed skating |
| Olympic medals | 4 (1 silver, 3 bronze) |
| World record | 500m (short track) |
Who is the best female speed skater in the world?
Defining “best” depends on discipline and era. In short track, Kim Boutin’s four Olympic medals, her 500m world record, and 17 World Championship medals make her the standout of the current generation (Olympic.ca – Canada’s Olympic team).
Kim Boutin’s Olympic achievements
- 2018 PyeongChang – silver in 1000m, bronze in 500m and 1500m
- 2022 Beijing – bronze in 500m
- First Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in the 1500m short track (Wikipedia)
- First Canadian female short track skater to win three medals at a single Winter Games (ISU Skating)
Comparison with other female skaters
Six female speed skaters — across short and long track — with their major career tallies.
| Skaters | Discipline | Olympic golds | World records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Boutin | Short track | 0 | 1 |
| Bonnie Blair | Long track | 5 | 0 (multiple world bests) |
| Claudia Pechstein | Long track | 5 | 0 (multiple world bests) |
| Ireen Wüst | Long track | 6 | 0 (multiple world bests) |
| Viktor Ahn (male, for counterpoint) | Short track | 3 (RUS) + 2 (KOR) | 0 |
Boutin stacks four Olympic medals in short track but has zero golds. That puts her behind legends like Bonnie Blair (five golds) when comparing podium tops, yet ahead of almost every active short‑track rival in total hardware.
The implication: Boutin’s record is strongest in short track’s fast‑twitch events, whereas long‑track skaters like Blair cover different distances entirely. The “best” title is a matter of discipline above all.
Who is considered the greatest speed skater of all time?
The greatest list has two locks: Eric Heiden for male long track and Bonnie Blair for female long track. Their achievement sets are once‑in‑a‑generation outliers.
Eric Heiden’s dominance
- Won five gold medals at a single Winter Olympics (1980 Lake Placid) — a feat no Winter Olympian has ever matched (Olympics.com – official Olympic coverage)
- Set five Olympic records and one world record in those nine days (U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame)
- His 10,000m world record shattered the previous mark by 6.20 seconds (Olympics.com)
Bonnie Blair’s legacy
- Five gold medals, one bronze across four Winter Games (1988–1994) (U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame)
- Won the 500m and 1000m double at both 1992 and 1994 Olympics (Parkland College – alumni profile)
- Raced for the United States in four consecutive Olympics (Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame)
Other contenders
- Ireen Wüst (Netherlands) – six gold medals over five Olympics, the most individual Winter Olympic golds by any athlete
- Claudia Pechstein (Germany) – five golds, two silvers, two bronzes; the only woman to compete in eight Winter Olympics
- Viktor Ahn (Russia/South Korea) – six gold medals in short track across two nations
The 1980 Games had far fewer events per skater than today — Heiden’s five golds were the maximum possible. Modern skaters race far more events, making raw medal totals incomparable across eras.
Why this matters: pinnacle status depends on whether you weight dominance within one Games (Heiden) or longevity across many (Wüst, Pechstein). No single metric captures both.
Where is Eric Heiden now and what is his net worth?
Heiden did not stay in sport. He became an orthopedic surgeon, treating pro cyclists and everyday athletes in Utah.
Eric Heiden’s post-skating career
- Earned his medical degree from Stanford University
- Specializes as an orthopedic surgeon in Salt Lake City
- Served as team doctor for the U.S. cycling team and the Real Salt Lake soccer team
Eric Heiden’s net worth
- Estimated at roughly $2–3 million, based on his medical career and speaking engagements (ESPN – SportsCentury profile)
- No verified public asset disclosure exists
Heiden’s wealth pales next to modern sports stars — but he chose a non‑sport career. For readers comparing athlete net worths, his numbers reflect a deliberate exit from the spotlight.
The pattern: Heiden traded fame for medicine and has not capitalized on his Olympic brand. That puts his modest net worth in context — it’s a career choice, not a market failure.
What is Bonnie Blair doing now and is she still married?
Blair retired after the 1994 Lillehammer Games and shifted into coaching and motivational speaking. She married fellow speed skater Dave Cruikshank in 1995 (Parkland College).
Bonnie Blair’s post-competition life
- Works as a motivational speaker and leadership consultant
- Served on the U.S. Olympic Committee athlete advisory council
- Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004
Bonnie Blair’s family
- Married to Dave Cruikshank (a former Olympic speed skater) since 1995
- Has two children
- Lives in Wisconsin
Blair built a low‑profile but steady career as a speaker and committee member. Her net worth is not public but is likely higher than Heiden’s due to more extensive corporate speaking contracts.
The trade-off: Blair leveraged her five golds into a long‑term public career while Heiden stepped away. Both outcomes are valid — but they create very different personal‑story arcs.
Is Kim Boutin married?
Boutin is not married, but she is in a relationship with fellow Canadian short track skater Steven Dubois (Olympic.ca). No formal engagement or wedding announcement has been made.
Kim Boutin’s relationship with Steven Dubois
- Dubois won silver in the men’s 1500m at Beijing 2022
- The couple trains at the same Quebec high‑performance center
- Both are active competitors, making their schedules interwoven
Kim Boutin’s age and background
- Born December 16, 1994 — she turned 29 in 2023
- Grew up in Sherbrooke, Quebec
- Started speed skating at age 8
What this means: Boutin’s personal life remains relatively private. Fans looking for marriage or engagement news have no confirmed date to track.
“I know exactly what I want in my career. I love to compete, I love the process, and I love the people around me.”
Kim Boutin, speaking in a Team Canada profile (Olympic.ca)
“Bonnie Blair was the first woman to win the same Olympic event three times consecutively, and she did it with incredible consistency.”
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame biography (USOPM.org)
For Canadian fans weighing Boutin’s place among legends, the decision is clear: if you value raw medal count within the same Games, look at Heiden. If you value endurance across multiple Olympics, look at Blair. And if you want the most accomplished active short‑track skater on the women’s circuit right now — Boutin is your answer.
For a deeper look at Kim Boutins retirement and career, including her decision to step away from competition, this article covers her full journey.
Frequently asked questions
How many Olympic medals does Kim Boutin have?
She has four Olympic medals: one silver (1000m in 2018) and three bronze (500m in 2018, 1500m in 2018, 500m in 2022).
What is Kim Boutin’s world record?
She holds the world record in the women’s 500m short track event, set in 2019.
When did Kim Boutin win her first Olympic medal?
She won her first Olympic medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games: a bronze in the 500m.
Who is Kim Boutin’s partner?
She is in a relationship with fellow Canadian short track skater Steven Dubois, who won Olympic silver in 2022.
What is Kim Boutin’s net worth?
Her net worth is not publicly reported. Speed skaters generally earn less than mainstream athletes unless they land major endorsements.
How does Kim Boutin compare to Bonnie Blair?
Blair won five Olympic golds in long track; Boutin has four total medals (no gold) in short track. The disciplines differ, but Blair’s gold count is higher.
Is Kim Boutin retiring soon?
She has not announced a retirement date. She may target the 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina.
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Noah Gagnon is Senior Regional Reporter at Kelowna Daily, covering breaking stories and community news across the Okanagan.