Alberta’s Max Poulin is the lone athlete from outside Quebec to win a 1000m medal
NORTH RUSTICO, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND – Quebec had five skaters reach the 1000m short track podium at the 2023 Canada Winter Games on Friday, brining home two gold, two silver and one bronze medal on the second last day of competition.
Émanuelle Leclerc (QC), who was victorious in yesterday’s 500m, captured her second gold medal of the Games, this time in the 1000m. Her time of 1:43.936 place her on the top step of the podium, ahead of teammates Roselyne Pigeon (1:44.020), gold medalist in the 1500m, and Kélian Quevillon (1:44.255), silver medalist in the 1500m.
The trio’s podium sweep came after the race was restarted due to a collision with the protective mats involving Ontario’s Aaralyn McGill. The 1500m silver medalist was slow to get back onto her skates after her blade slipped out and she crashed at the top of the corner with only a few laps remaining. McGill looked to be in contention for much of the restart but ran out of steam in the final lap and was passed by Quevillon.
Quebec narrowly had its second podium sweep of the day in the men’s 1000m, however a penalty to Samuel Darveau (QC) for making contact with another skater while making and outside to inside pass negated those chances.
Justin Bessette (1:36.752) and Alexis Bélanger (1:36.778) crossed the line first and second, while Alberta’s Max Poulin (1:36.994), silver medalist in Tuesday’s 1500m, narrowly edged out Ontario’s Adam Law (1:37.001) for the bronze medal.
The full results from today’s races are available on GemsPro. Fans can also re-watch the races on-demand by visiting canadagames.ca/watch. The Canada Winter Games short track competition comes to and end tomorrow with the 3000m points race and 3000m relays.
Quotes
“I feel very happy. I was a tough start to the competition, but I was able to come back and win this gold medal. I was quite emotional during the final. I wasn’t expecting this at the begining of the week, but I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish. For sure it would have been amazing to have three Quebec skaters on the podium, but it’s not a big deal. We’re proud and are excited to go and get the gold medal tomorrow in the relay.”
Justin Bessette (QC)
“I am very excited and proud of my result. My objective was to win it all today. It was not an easy race. After the restart, my legs were absolutely dead, but I reminded myself that I was at the Canada Games and we only participate once in our life, so I gave it everything I had left and it paid off.”
Émanuelle Leclerc (QC)
Results
Women’s 1000m Top-5
- Émanuelle Leclerc (QC) 1:43.936
- Roselyne Pigeon (QC) 1:44.020
- Kélian Quevillon (QC) 1:44.255
- Aaralyn McGill (ON) 1:44.274
- Adelie Arvisais-Bacon (QC) 1:49.252
Men’s 1000m Top-5
- Justin Bessette (QC) 1:36.752
- Alexis Bélanger (QC) 1:36.778
- Max Poulin (AB) 1:36.994
- Adam Law (ON) 1:37.001
- Samuel Darveau (QC) DSQ