Bay City Man Returns to Olympic Short Track Stage

A Journey of Dedication and Passion

Bay City resident Brian Chartier is set to embark on a new adventure, heading to Italy next month to serve as a starter in the Winter Olympic Games for the second time. This time, he will be responsible for the women's short track speed skating events at the Milano Cortina Games, which begin on February 6. Chartier, who previously served as a starter for the men's short track at the PyeongYang Games in South Korea in 2018, has now been appointed to a role that he describes as both humbling and exciting.

"I'm very happy," said Chartier, who had a 40-year career with Dow and Corning. "It was one of my goals to get to the Games (as an official). And once I did, I wanted to get back to the Games. I'm really looking forward to it."

Chartier's journey into officiating began when his children, Meagan and Kyle, were active in short track. He started by volunteering at local clubs, eventually becoming a starter at many meets at the Midland Civic Arena. His nephew, Alex Izykowski, even won a bronze medal with the men's 5,000-meter relay at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.

A Career Built on Commitment

Since the 2013-14 season, Chartier has been an International Skating Union starter and is one of only two starters in the United States and 18 worldwide. Over the years, he has officiated 12 World Cup competitions and four World Championships, along with the Olympics. The 2026 Olympics will mark his 55th competition as a starter since January 2014.

He was notified of his appointment for the Milano Cortina Games last June after being evaluated by ISU officials at several meets, including the World Cup in Montreal last October and the World Championship in Beijing last March.

The Qualities of a Successful Starter

Consistency and conviction are key attributes of a good starter in speed skating, according to Chartier. "You have to be consistent, and you have to have the willpower to call a race back if you see a false start," he explained. "You can’t be afraid to call back a race, because if you don’t call it back, you may help that skater, but you’re hurting everyone else."

Since the 2018 Olympic Games, the rules have changed regarding false starts. Previously, skaters were allowed one false start without penalty, but now, a single false start results in disqualification. "The skaters adapted very well to it. At the (Olympic) qualifier this year we had zero false starts," Chartier noted.

Chartier will work closely with Jean Lamontagne of Canada, who will be the starter for men's short track. Each will serve as the other's assistant and confirm each other's calls. Unlike referees, who have access to instant replay, starters do not. "Your voice (as an official) has to be clear and concise, and loud enough for everybody to hear," Chartier said.

A Full Schedule Ahead

A total of 112 skaters will compete in short track at the Olympics - 54 women and 58 men. Short track racing takes place on an 111-meter oval, while long track is on a 400-meter oval.

Once Chartier arrives in Italy on February 5, he'll be busy for the next 16 days at the Fiera Milano Exhibition Centre. After the opening ceremony on February 6, short track runs from February 9-20, with practices on odd-numbered days and races on even-numbered days.

"Every day before the competitions, we are available for all the teams if they would like to work on their starts," he said. "Plus there are team leaders' meetings, so it's a pretty full schedule once we get started."

Personal Life and Travel Plans

Chartier's wife, Dawn Chartier, a former teacher at Floyd and Bullock Creek elementary schools, will accompany him on the trip. They'll return home on February 21. "We try to (travel) as much as we can when we're not working," Chartier said of the officials. "We’re going to definitely go meet some people. We're supposed to be close to a train station so we can go into Milan. We're looking forward to that."