The audible intake of breath, that moment of regret and disbelief before the applause began to swell, is what has stayed with Kristina Groves.

She isn't certain whether she was putting on or taking off her skates that afternoon at the fabled Thialf arena in Heerenveen. But she can remember how, for a heartbeat or two, the place fell silent, out of respect.

"This was the last World Cup stop after the 2010 Olympics, and they announced over the loudspeaker that Jeremy was retiring, that this was his last competition,'' the four-time Olympic medallist recalls.

"The Dutch, of course, know everything there is to know about speedskating. So naturally they revere Jeremy. They love to watch him race. He's an icon in Holland. In Japan. In all places that love our sport.

"And when they made that announcement, there was an 'Ahhhhhh . . . ' This huge collective sigh of disappointment rushed over the crowd. Ten thousand people. Just like, 'What a bummer.'

"And then, of course, they start to clap, a big cheer. It was touching. It made me feel good, for him, that at least people over there understood how great he was."

Saturday, as the Essent ISU World Sprint Championships open here, Canadian sport and his peers will honour Jeremy Wotherspoon for a virtually unmatched long-track career.

Arguably the best there's ever been.

"Not only did Jer set the standard for this country," says his old coach, the Missouri-born Michael Crowe, "he set it for others, as well.

"Having a role model like Jer, it makes the whole country examine what it takes, what's possible."

A huge photo banner of Wotherspoon in stride will be unveiled to take its place alongside those already draped around the walls of the Olympic Oval. A video tribute is scheduled for after the men's 1,000-metre races.

Wotherspoon's better half, Kim Weger, daughter Ella, his parents and sisters will be there to share the moment with him, in a facility that he virtually grew up in as an athlete.

"It's nice to be part of that group on the wall," says Wotherspoon, back in town from Inzell, Germany, where he runs the KIA Speed Skating Academy, an arena that caters to skaters from underfunded skating countries. "It's nice to be honoured by a group of people that know me, a community I've been a part of for a long time. That part means a lot to me.

"I'm excited to see the picture. Excited to see the video."

If Gaetan Boucher's double-gold medal Olympic exploits in Sarajevo turned this country on to speedskating, Wotherspoon's ongoing World Cup heroics, his penchant for world record times helped drive a Canadian renaissance in the sport.

He let young Canadian athletes dream, expanded their ambition; provided a tangible example that yes, it could happen for them, too. And in a big way.

"He meant so much in just developing the culture of excellence within our team," praises Groves. "He set such an example. He was in a league of his own in terms of technical excellence. Watching him skate, he floated across the ice. So beautiful. So effortless. And SO hard to do."

Denny Morrison, the country's top 1,000-metre male, tells the story of competing at an age-class competition in Red Deer in 1994. He was 12, and Jeremy Wotherspoon presented the medal for winning his North American age-class championship.

"He was, I think, 18 years old at the time, had just won junior worlds," laughs Morrison. "I didn't really know who he was then, but I knew he was a big deal. I still have the picture with me holding the plaque and Jeremy is right there beside me.

"It's a cool shot.

"Gaetan Boucher and his legacy inspired a lady in my small town, Chetwynd (B.C.), to create a club there and that's how I got into speedskating. That's his legend. Jeremy is the Gaetan Boucher of the 1990s and beyond."

Sixty-seven World Cup wins, 12 overall World Cup titles, four World Sprint Championships. A 34.03 500-metre clocking at Salt Lake City in 2007 that remains the standard they all are still gunning for.

Usain Bolt in clap skates.

"The thing that's amazing about Jeremy," says women's current 1,000metre No. 1 Christine Nesbitt, "is that he's not a superstar, but he is a world champion. Like, repeatedly. Probably the best speedskater, the best sprinter, in history.

"He showed everyone that you don't need to act like a superstar to be the best. You can just be yourself and win World Cup races, set world records. No showboating. It's not in how you act, it's in what you do."

This first summer in Germany proved tremendously busy for Wotherspoon. He was, until September, the only coach for 15 skaters, from countries such as Poland, Latvia, France, Estonia, Romania, Mongolia, etc., and there were agreements with federations and the International Skating Union to finalize, partnership agreements to haggle over.

Kim worked as operations management of the building.

"This," he says, "is the first year, so we knew there'd be some stress and some bumps. We've learned a lot. We're busier now, but it's easier, if that makes any sense.

"Do I miss racing? Of course. I always will. A bit. Especially now when I still feel young and . . . somewhat capable.

"But at least I'm still part of it. I have no complaints. I had a great career."

Which is why they're saluting the man Saturday.

The last sight we had of Jeremy Wotherspoon - sitting alone in the infield at the Richmond Oval following a 14th place in the 1,000, lost in his thoughts, his memories, consigned to the knowledge that his competitive career had in essence reached a conclusion - remains among the most poignant moments of the 2010 Winter Games.

"I think," says Groves, "that all of Canada wanted a magical ending to that Olympics for Jeremy. OK, maybe he didn't win a medal, but in my opinion, it was still magical.

"In my opinion, his whole career was magic. So the tribute this weekend is very, very fitting. We're talking about a once-in-a-generation skater. A gift to speedskating in Canada.

"He's a legend in this sport. And will be, I think, forever."

George Johnson is a sports columnist with the Calgary Herald gjohnson@calgaryherald.com