CALGARY, ALBERTA – Canada’s Isabelle Weidemann has withdrawn her participation from a pair of upcoming World Cup stops in Norway and Poland. She will head home to Canada to ensure an optimal preparation for the remainder of the international season, which concludes this coming February with the ISU World Speed Skating Championships on home ice in Calgary.
Isabelle Weidemann“World Championships are the most important event of our season, and I’d like to be well prepared to perform at my best during that competition. Together with my coaches and support staff, we made the decision that additional rest and time at home would be more valuable for my preparation than competing at World Cups 3 and 4 in Europe.”
Weidemann helped Canada earn a silver medal in the Team Pursuit at the season opening World Cup in Japan. She also earned a pair of top-10 results in the women’s 3000m, ninth in Obihiro and sixth in Beijing. The Ottawa native finished last season ranked second overall in World Cup long-distance events and was crowned World Champion alongside Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais in the Team Pursuit.
The Canadian long track speed skating team is back in action next weekend with a World Cup stop in Stavanger, Norway (December 1-3), before closing out the fall season in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland (December 8-10). Races can be watched live on CBC Sports digital platforms, including CBCSports.ca and the CBC Gem app.