The Canadian men's short-track speedskating team has lost its head coach.
Derrick Campbell, who has been at the helm of one of Canada's more successful winter sports programs since 2006, stepped down on Thursday to accept a job with the Chinese national team. He'll now be part of the host squad for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
The native of Cambridge, Ont., guided Canadian skaters to a total of seven medals at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Winter Games.
"I'm excited about this next challenge in my career," Campbell said in a statement. "It's an opportunity to experience and learn new things and to be a part of something as special as helping to prepare a team for a home Olympic Games.
"It wasn't an easy decision to make, but after 12 years at this job, I was ready to take on new challenges."
A three-time Olympian as an athlete, Campbell won gold in the relay at the 1998 Nagano Games. He also captured a world championship in the 500 metres in 1997.
Campbell began his international coaching career in the United States, leading the American team at the 2006 Olympics.
"Derrick was part of the men's program over three Olympic cycles and he was instrumental in building a tradition of excellence in the sport of short-track speedskating in Canada," Speed Skating Canada chief sport officer Shawn Holman said in a statement.
The Canadian Press
