Alex Boisvert-Lacroix also captures elusive medal in the 500m
NUR-SULTAN, KAZAKHSTAN – For the second time this season, Ottawa natives Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann stood together on the podium in an ISU World Cup Speed Skating long-distance event, earning the 5000m gold and bronze medals on Friday. Alex Boisvert-Lacroix also skated to a bronze medal in the 500m in Kazakhstan, his first individual podium finish since the 2017-18 season.
Blondin captured her first career gold medal in the ladies’ 5000m with a time of 6:54.945, a new track record for the Alau Ice Palace in Nur-Sultan. Weidemann took bronze behind current world record holder Martina Sáblíková of the Czech Republic. Weidemann and Blondin now sit second and third, respectively, in the long-distance World Cup rankings after three events.
After winning Division B during the last World Cup stop in Poland, Boisvert-Lacroix (Sherbrooke, Que.) capitalized on his return to the main group to win a bronze medal in the men’s 500m with a time of 34.730. The only faster times on Friday were skated by Russians Viktor Mushtakov and Ruslan Murashov. The medal marks Boisvert-Lacroix’s return to world-class form after suffering a herniated disk in his back last year.
The World Cup in Nur-Sultan continues on Saturday with the ladies' 500m, men's 1000m and men's 10,000m events. Competition will be available via live stream on CBC Sports beginning at 7:00 am ET.
“Honestly, I’m a little bit surprised and still in denial that I won this medal! But it’s a good surprise. I was really patient during the entire race and put the same effort into every lap, and I think that’s what won it today. It was a really close podium finish and it’s really exciting to be on there again with a teammate.”
- Ivanie Blondin
“I am certainly very happy to have stepped on the podium today; it's been too long since I won a medal. After a difficult year last year, I worked extremely hard this summer to relieve my back pain and return to good health, and to see that I am back among the world's elite gives me great comfort and pride."
- Alex Boisvert-Lacroix
“I think these results speak very highly of the team we are training with right now. We have a lot of confidence, a strong training group and a very knowledgeable coach, which are all reflected in today’s medals.”
- Isabelle Weidemann