Béatrice Lamarche wins bronze; Men’s and Women’s Team Pursuit both reach podium
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC – Canada reached the podium four times during the final day of racing at the ISU Four Continents Speed Skating Championships on Sunday, helping them cap off this first international competition in Quebec City in 30-years with 14 total medals.
Laurent Dubreuil led the charge by winning his third gold medal of the weekend – thanks to a dominant skate in the men’s 1000m – adding to the titles he earned in Friday’s 500m and Team Sprint. Despite having to slow down to avoid contact with his pair-mate Conor McDermott-Mostowy of the U.S. during the final lane change, the Lévis native crossed the finish line at his hometown Centre de glace Intact Assurance in 1:09.278, comfortably ahead of Korean’s Seong-Hyeon Park (+0.56) and Tae-Yun Kim (+0.98).
Earlier in the day, Béatrice Lamarche capture her second individual distance medal of the competition, winning bronze in the women’s 1000m (1:17.393). The race was won by Korea’s Min-Sun Kim (1:16.066), while Kazakhstan’s Yekaterina Aydova (1:16.191) earned silver. Lamarche had previously won bronze in Friday’s 3000m.
Canada concluded the day with a pair of medals in the Team Pursuit, with the women winning gold and the men brining home silver.
The women’s team of Lamarche, Valérie Maltais (La Baie, Que.) and Maddison Pearman (Ponoka, Alta.) were impressive in their first ever race together as a trio, crossing the line in 3:06.877, over four seconds faster than second-place China (+4.32) and third-place Korea (+4.40).
The men’s squad of Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (Sherbrooke, Que.), Jake Weidemann (Ottawa, Ont.) and Max Halyk (Calgary, Alta.) put forth a powerful skate from start to finish, posting a time of 3:47.511. They looked poised to win it all, but the Korean’s put forth an incredible final lap to close the gap and leapfrog the Canadians to win gold (3:47.172). China (+6.76) finished a distant third.
Canada’s long track team is back in action on home ice next weekend at the first of two consecutive World Cups in Calgary, taking place from December 9-11 and December 16-18 at the Olympic Oval. Tickets are still available at www.speedskating.ca. Races will be live streamed on CBC Sports and Radio-Canada Sports.
Quotes
In terms of results, it was a perfect weekend with three gold in three races. Today’s race certainly was not what I had hoped for. There was a bit of an issue in the final lane change that caused me to lose some speed. I’m not sure how much it affected my race, but my final time was not what I was expecting. In the end, the most important thing was to win the race and I was able to do that, regardless of the circumstances.
Laurent Dubreuil
This competition in Quebec City was an incredible opportunity to showcase the sport. Events such as these Four Continents give kids the opportunity to come watch some of the best skaters in the world. I take a lot of pride in being a part of that group and showing these young people an example of success and perseverance. I’m hopeful we will have many other opportunities to host events of this level here in the future.
Laurent Dubreuil
I’m very happy with my performances. I was not expecting a medal in Friday’s 3000m, but I won bronze and set a personal record, which kicked off my weekend really well. This morning in the 1000m, I was hoping for a podium. I knew I had good chances, I just needed to put together a good race. My execution was really good and I’m very satisfied with my performance.
Béatrice Lamarche
Results
- Women’s 1000m
- Béatrice Lamarche: 3rd
- Maddison Pearman: 5th
- Alison Desmarais: 6th
- Men’s 1000m
- Laurent Dubreuil: 1st
- Christopher Fiola: 4th
- David La Rue: 5th
- Team Pursuit
- Women’s: 1st
- Men’s: 2nd