Canadians win gold in men’s and women’s Team Sprint; Isabelle Weidemann grabs 3000m silver for first career individual distance medal

CALGARY, ALBERTA – The ISU World Speed Skating Championships in Calgary got off to a golden start for Canada on Thursday, as both the men’s and women’s Team Sprint squads were crowned world champions at the Olympic Oval. Isabelle Weidemann also reached the podium, bringing home silver in the women’s 3000m.

Anders Johnson (Burnaby, B.C.), Laurent Dubreuil (Lévis, Que.) and Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (Sherbrooke, Que.) set a new world record of 1:17.173 during their gold medal performance. The trio crossed the finish line with the exact same time as the Netherlands, who skated in the pair before them, however their first-place result and world record were later confirmed by photo-finish, 0.002 seconds faster than their Dutch rivals. The Norwegians earned the bronze medal, +0.14 behind the leaders.

The women’s squad of Carolina Hiller (Prince George, B.C.), Maddison Pearman (Ponoka, Alta.) and Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, Ont.) also finished atop the podium, redemption of sorts after a disastrous fall during the final World Cup of the season two weeks ago in Quebec City. Their time of 1:25.14 placed them ahead of the United States (1:26.04) and Poland (1:26.63).

It was Canada’s second consecutive World Championship title in both the men’s and women’s Team Sprint, as they both grabbed the top spot last season in Heerenveen. It was also the first career World Championship medals for both Johnson and Pearman.

Earlier in the day, Isabelle Weidemann was crowned vice world champion in the women’s 3000m in front of family and friends. The Ottawa native captured her first career World Championships medal in an individual distance, having previously only reached the podium in the Team Pursuit, where she’s won gold (2023), silver (2021) and bronze (2020).

The 28-year-old crossed the line with a time of 3:58.01 and was in gold medal position until the very last pair of racers, where she was overtaken for top spot by Irene Schouten of the Netherlands (3:57.10). Veteran long distance skater Martina Sáblíková of Czech Republic (3:58.33) finished in bronze medal position to win the 25th World Championship medal of her career.

The ISU World Speed Skating Championships continues tomorrow with the men’s and women’s 500m and Team Pursuit. Watch the races live on CBC and Radio-Canada digital platforms.

Quotes

“Becoming a two-time world champion feels incredible! We were able to put together a perfect race and it feels great. Today, I just powered off the start. I was looking for our coach Gregor [Jelonek] in the corner and I heard him say that we were good and close together. Maddison and Ivanie then had an incredible slingshot during the last lap to bring it home. Being on home ice, with our friends and families here, it feels surreal. It’s huge to kick off the World Championships with a podium. I’m going into my 500m tomorrow and will look to build on that momentum and energy.”

Carolina Hiller

“A world record and a world championship, it feels absolutely amazing! We know that the three of us work well together, not only individually with our roles in the race, but also as a team. When we came across the line, there was a bit of a delay before the times were posted, but when I saw we were first it was an exhilarating moment. I cannot describe the feeling.”

Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu

Results

Women’s 3000m

Isabelle Weidemann: 1st
Ivanie Blondin: 6th
Valerie Maltais 10th

Men’s 5000m

Ted-Jan Bloemen: 5th
Jordan Belchos: 20th

Team Sprint

Women’s: 1st
Men’s: 1st