Laurent Dubreuil captures silver in men’s 500m
TOMASZÓW MAZOWIECKI, POLAND – Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais led Canada to a gold in the women’s Team Pursuit at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Poland on Saturday, a win that helped them secure their fourth consecutive overall World Cup title in the distance.
The reigning Olympic champions showed that they are still the team to beat, crossing the line in 3:00.97 to capture their third gold medal in as many tries this season. They were joined on the podium by the Netherlands (+0.77) and the United States (+3.04).
In addition to earning their fourth consecutive World Cup title, Canada also finished their third straight season with a gold medal sweep. The team has gone eight for eight since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, which coincides with when the trio of Weidemann, Blondin and Maltais was first paired together.
Laurent Dubreuil also reached the World Cup podium on Saturday, winning silver in the men’s 500m.
Skating in the final pair alongside friend and rival Yuma Murakami of Japan, Dubreuil posted a time of 34.87, only 0.11 seconds off the pace set by gold medalist Wataru Morishige of Japan (34.78). Murakami (35.03) closed out the podium in bronze medal position.
A model of consistency, Saturday’s silver medal was Dubreuil’s fifth consecutive podium finish in the 500m this season, having so far captured two gold, two silver and a bronze. The 30-year-old sits atop the World Cup rankings with 276 points, 42 points ahead of his closest challenger Murakami.
The ISU World Cup Speed Skating concludes on Sunday with the men’s and women’s 1000m and Mass Start. Races will be live streamed on CBC Sports beginning at 9:00am ET.
Quotes
“It was a good race, but not perfect. I think I could have skated a little more relaxed. But in the first race of the weekend, I think it’s normal to be anxious and to want to do well. A second place is good. I beat all the other guys easily, but to beat [Wataru] Morishige it would have taken a race where I skate better and was more efficient in my technique. I am happy with the silver medal and to keep my place in the overall rankings. There is only one race left and it shouldn’t be difficult to win the overall title, which was one of my goals for the season.”
Laurent Dubreuil
“We are really happy with our race today. We went out conservatively and in control as we weren’t sure the best way to race the pursuit on this ice. It paid off as we finish our second straight season with nothing but World Cup gold!”
Valérie Maltais
“The girls and I are really happy with how today went and to go undefeated so far this season. It’s a few years in a row now that we have been able to bring home the overall title, which we are proud of as a team. We have one more race at the World Championships and obviously that is the big one! We felt smooth and powerful today, but there are always things to work on and we are missing a bit of speed. So we are hoping to rest over the next few weeks and go into the World Championships stronger and a little bit more snappy.”
Isabelle Weidemann
Results
Men’s 500m
- Laurent Dubreuil: 2nd
- Christopher Fiola: 19th
- Anders Johnson: 7th (Division B)
- Frank Roth: 8th (Division B)
Men’s 5000m
- Ted-Jan Bloemen: 8th
- Graeme Fish: 12th
- Jordan Belchos: 5th (Division B)
- Aimé Perreault: 24th (Division B)
Women’s 1500m
- Ivanie Blondin: 7th
- Béatrice Lamarche: 17th
- Alexa Scott: 19th
- Maddison Pearman: 3rd (Division B)
Team Pursuit
- Women’s: 1st