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William Dandjinou: Age, Medal, Net Worth, and Biography

Benjamin Foster Patterson • 2026-06-29 • Reviewed by Sofia Lindberg

Most kids at age six are still figuring out how to tie their shoes, but William Dandjinou was already lacing up skates at a Montreal rink; within a decade he would be winning five medals at the Canada Winter Games, and within two more he would stand on an Olympic podium in Milano Cortina. Dandjinou’s journey from junior champion to two-time Crystal Globe winner and World Champion now includes an Olympic silver medal.

Born: October 1, 2001 · Height: 191 cm · Olympic Medal: Silver – Milano Cortina 2026 · Crystal Globes: 2 · World Champion: Yes · Team: Canada – Short Track

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth — not publicly disclosed
  • Parents’ names and occupations — not named in public sources
  • Ethnicity — possibly Haitian descent, but no official confirmation
  • Coach — not listed on official profiles
  • Siblings — not publicly known
  • Educational background (high school, college) not publicly available
3Timeline signal
  • February 2026: wins Olympic silver in mixed relay at Milano Cortina (Olympic.ca)
  • 2024–25 season: second Crystal Globe + World Champion (International Skating Union)
  • October 2025: first skater to win six gold medals in a single ISU weekend (International Skating Union)
4What’s next
  • Continuation on World Tour with target 2027 World Championships
  • Potential pursuit of individual Olympic gold in 2030 Winter Games (host city TBD)
  • Growing brand ambassadorship (e.g. Lululemon) and media presence

Seven key stats that define the skater, from his Sherbrooke roots to his Olympic debut:

Attribute Value
Full Name William Dandjinou
Date of Birth October 1, 2001
Place of Birth Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Height 191 cm
Sport Short-track speed skating
Team Canada
Coach Not publicly listed
The paradox

Dandjinou is the tallest elite short-track skater on the circuit at 191 cm — a height that typically works against agility on tight corners — yet he dominated the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m in Montreal 2025, winning a gold in each distance. His stride length becomes a weapon rather than a liability.

Who is William Dandjinou?

Early life and start in skating

  • Born October 1, 2001, in Sherbrooke, Quebec (Olympedia).
  • Started skating at about age six at CPV Montreal St-Michel (International Skating Union).
  • Later moved to the Laval Regional Short Track Centre (International Skating Union).
  • Joined the Canadian national team in 2019 (Speed Skating Canada).

Career milestones

  • 2019 Canada Winter Games: three gold medals and two silver medals (International Skating Union).
  • Made World Cup debut in 2019/20 season (International Skating Union).
  • First World Tour gold in 2023 (men’s 1500m) (International Skating Union).
  • First World Championship title in 1000m (2023/24) (International Skating Union).
  • World Championship gold in men’s 1500m (2024/25) (International Skating Union).
  • Two-time Crystal Globe winner (overall World Cup champion) (Olympic.ca).
  • Made Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026 as a two-time Crystal Globe winner (Olympic.ca).
  • Won silver medal in the mixed relay (Olympic.ca).
Bottom line: Dandjinou is a rare triple-threat short-track skater who wins across all distances. For Canadian fans, he represents a new generation of consistent podium finishers. For rivals, his height and stride create an unconventional challenge.

Did William Dandjinou win a medal at the Olympics?

Yes. At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Dandjinou earned his first Olympic medal as a member of Canada’s mixed relay team, which took silver (Olympic.ca). He also competed in individual events, finishing fourth in the men’s 1000m and men’s 5000m relay, and fifth in the men’s 500m and men’s 1500m (Olympic.ca). Olympedia records a single silver and no gold or bronze in his Olympic tally.

Why this matters

Canada’s mixed relay silver was the nation’s first Olympic short-track medal since 2018. Dandjinou’s contribution in a team event shows his value beyond individual stardom — a trait that coaches prize in relay rotations.

What happened to William Dandjinou?

From junior champion to world leader

  • After a five-medal performance at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, Dandjinou missed qualification for Beijing 2022 (International Skating Union).
  • Bounced back with his first World Tour gold in 2023 and a World Championship title in 2023/24 (International Skating Union).
  • Won six gold medals across a weekend in October 2025, an ISU first (International Skating Union).

Crystal Globe and World Championship success

  • Captured the overall Crystal Globe for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 ISU Short Track World Cup series (Olympic.ca).
  • Won World Championship gold in 1000m (2023/24) and 1500m (2024/25) (International Skating Union).
  • Olympic silver in 2026 capped the most dominant two-season stretch of any Canadian male short tracker since the 2010s.
The catch

Dandjinou missed Beijing 2022 — a bitter failure that forced him to retool his training and mental approach. The result was a breakout that turned a near-miss into a Crystal Globe dynasty.

How old is William Dandjinou?

Height and physical stats

Born October 1, 2001, Dandjinou is 24 years old as of the 2026 Olympics. He stands 191 cm tall (Olympedia), making him one of the tallest skaters on the World Tour.

Ethnicity and family

His ethnicity is not publicly documented; some sources speculate Haitian heritage, but no official confirmation exists. Parents’ names and occupations are not listed in any athlete profile (Speed Skating Canada).

Glasses? A personal trademark

Dandjinou frequently wears glasses in public appearances and on his social media, a stylistic choice that has become part of his public image. The glasses have become a recognizable trademark, distinguishing his public image.

What is William Dandjinou’s net worth?

An exact net worth figure is not publicly disclosed. As a professional skater and ambassador for Olympics.com’s coverage of his partnership with Lululemon, his earnings include prize money from World Tour victories, Crystal Globe bonuses, appearance fees, and sponsorship deals. Based on typical short-track earnings, his net worth is estimated in the low six-figure range. No assets, real estate, or investment details are known.

Timeline

  • 2001-10-01: Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec (Olympedia)
  • ~2007: Started skating at age six (International Skating Union)
  • 2019: Won five medals at Canada Winter Games; joined national team (International Skating Union; Speed Skating Canada)
  • 2024–2025 season: Won first ISU Short Track World Cup Crystal Globe (Olympic.ca)
  • 2025–2026 season: Won second Crystal Globe; crowned World Champion (Olympic.ca)
  • 2026-02: Won silver medal at Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina (Olympic.ca)

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Birth date (October 1, 2001) [Olympedia]
  • Height (191 cm) [Olympedia]
  • Olympic silver medal (2026) [Olympic.ca]
  • Crystal Globe wins (2) [Olympic.ca]
  • World Champion title [International Skating Union]
  • Member of Canadian national team since 2019 [Speed Skating Canada]

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth
  • Ethnicity (likely Haitian but not officially stated)
  • Parents’ names and occupations
  • Full family details
  • Siblings — not publicly known
  • Educational background (high school, college) not publicly available

Key quotes

“Montreal Olympic medalist Crystal Globe winner World Champion @lululemon ambassador”

— William Dandjinou, self-description on Instagram bio

“Made his Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026 as a two-time Crystal Globe winner.”

Olympic.ca (Canadian Olympic Committee)

Dandjinou has turned a 2019 junior haul into two season-long championships and an Olympic medal — all before turning 25. For Canadian short track fans, the next quadrennial is already charged with expectation: his trajectory suggests more glory, but competition from South Korea and China will test his versatility. For Dandjinou, the choice is clear: continue to dominate the World Tour to build an individual gold resume, or risk being remembered as a relay specialist.

Related reading: Kyle Connor: Biography, Stats, Contract, Personal Life · Mario Lemieux: Career, Net Worth, and Life After Hockey

Frequently asked questions

How many Crystal Globes has William Dandjinou won?

He has won two overall Crystal Globes in the ISU Short Track World Cup series (2024–25 and 2025–26).

What events does William Dandjinou compete in?

He competes in the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, men’s relay (5000m), and mixed relay (2000m).

Is William Dandjinou related to other famous speed skaters?

No, there is no public information indicating any family relation to other speed skaters.

What is William Dandjinou’s Instagram handle?

His Instagram handle is @williamdandjinou.

Does William Dandjinou have any siblings?

No sibling information is available in public sources.

What is William Dandjinou’s best distance?

He has won World Championship titles in both the 1000m and 1500m, and he also dominated the 500m during the October 2025 weekend, showing strength across all three individual distances.

Where did William Dandjinou train?

He started at CPV Montreal St-Michel and later trained at the Laval Regional Short Track Centre in Quebec (International Skating Union).

Did William Dandjinou skate in previous Olympics?

No, he missed qualification for Beijing 2022. His Olympic debut was at Milano Cortina 2026, where he won a silver medal in the mixed relay.



Benjamin Foster Patterson

About the author

Benjamin Foster Patterson

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.