CALGARY, ALBERTA – Speed Skating Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced 16 Canadian long track speed skaters nominated to compete at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
The athletes earned their positions based on their rankings from four ISU World Cup events this fall, where the quota spots for the Canadian contingent were also secured. A total of eight men and eight women will line up at the start wearing the maple leaf throughout Beijing 2022, just short of the maximum quota of nine athletes per gender.
The athletes and coaches nominated are:
- Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, Ont.) – Women’s 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit
- Marsha Hudey (White City, Sask.) – Women’s 500m
- Valérie Maltais (Saguenay, Que.) – Women’s 3000m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit
- Brooklyn McDougall (Calgary, Alta.) – Women’s 500m
- Heather McLean (Winnipeg, Man.) – Women’s 500m
- Maddison Pearman (Ponoka, Alta.) – Women’s 1000m, 1500m
- Alexa Scott (Clandeboye, Man.) – Women’s 1000m, Team Pursuit
- Isabelle Weidemann (Ottawa, Ont.) – Women’s 3000m, 5000m, Team Pursuit
- Alternate: Kaylin Irvine (Calgary, Alta.)
- Alternate: Abigail McCluskey (Penticton, B.C.)
- Jordan Belchos (Scarborough, Ont.) – Men’s Mass Start, Team Pursuit
- Ted-Jan Bloemen (Calgary, Alta.) – Men’s 5000m, 10000m, Team Pursuit
- Laurent Dubreuil (Lévis, Que.) – Men’s 500m, 1000m
- Graeme Fish (Moose Jaw, Sask.) – Men’s 10000m
- Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (Sherbrooke, Que.) – Men’s 1000m, Mass Start
- Connor Howe (Canmore, Alta.) – Men’s 1000m, 1500m, Team Pursuit
- Tyson Langelaar (Winnipeg, Man.) – Men’s 1500m, Team Pursuit
- Gilmore Junio (Calgary, Alta.) – Men’s 500m
- Alternate: Vincent De Haître (Cumberland, Ont.)
- Alternate: Hayden Mayeur (Toronto, Ont.)
- Alternate: Kaleb Muller (Cranford, Alta.)
- Remmelt Eldering (Noardburgum, the Netherlands) – Coach
- Gregor Jelonek (Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Que.) – Coach
- Todd McClements (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Coach
- Bart Schouten (Haarlem, the Netherlands) – Coach
- Mark Wild (Milton, Ont.) – Coach
- Scott Maw (Barrie, Ont.) – Integrated Support Team Lead
- Dave Paskevich (Calgary, Alta.) – Mental Performance Consultant
- Lauren Vickery (Edmonton, Alta.) – Physiotherapist
- Mark Jesney (Saskatoon, Sask.) – Physiotherapist
- Joseph Bentley (Black Diamond, Alta.) – Massage Therapist
- Reece Derraugh (Winnipeg, Man.) – Equipment Technician
- Cathy Tong (Calgary, Alta.) – Team Leader
- Nicole Espenant (Ottawa, Ont.) – Media Attaché
Long track speed skating is Canada’s most successful sport at the Olympic Winter Games, with a storied history that includes 37 medals. The 2022 national team will look to build on a successful Olympic qualification campaign – where they earned an impressive total of 24 World Cup podium finishes – to top its most recent Olympic medal tallies (two at PyeongChang 2018 and two at Sochi 2014).
Ivanie Blondin is one of nine veteran Olympians headed to Beijing.
“It is a privilege to be representing Canada again at Beijing 2022,” said the long-distance skater. “I am heading there with a goal of redemption after my last Olympic Games and a drive to make myself and all Canadians proud. Our team has proven to be resilient, determined and fiercely passionate over the past four years, and we are excited to use those qualities to power our performances on the ice.”
Blondin is joined by Ted-Jan Bloemen, the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s 10,000m and double medallist from PyeongChang 2018, reigning men’s 500m world champion Laurent Dubreuil, and her teammates in powerhouse team pursuit trio, Isabelle Weidemann and Valérie Maltais. Alongside the veterans, seven athletes will make their Olympic debuts in Beijing.
“Going into my second Olympic Games, I feel honoured to wear the maple leaf as I compete with the best in the world,” said Dubreuil, a consistent medal threat in the sprint distances. “Training has been going very well and the last month at home with my family has helped me recharge my batteries. I’m very excited and up for the challenge!”
Long track speed skating will take place February 5 to February 19 (Days 1 to 15) at the National Speed Skating Oval, commonly referred to as the Ice Ribbon.
“I remember being nominated to the Canadian Olympic Team, and it is my honour as Chef de Mission to welcome these members of the long track speed skating team to Team Canada,” said Catriona Le May Doan. “The long history of success at the Olympic Winter Games is in great hands with these athletes. The performances over the last few years have this team contending for a podium every time they step on the ice. I am very proud of their resilience to get here and can’t wait to cheer them on in Beijing.”
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.