Maltais captures third individual distance medal of World Cup season

SALT LAKE CITY, USA– Valérie Maltais earned her first career World Cup medal in the women’s 3000m, winning bronze during the first day of the ISU World Cup in Salt Lake City. 

Coming into the competition after winning gold in the 3000m at the ISU Four Continents Championships last weekend, Maltais (La Baie, Que.) earned a third-place finish in the distance, taking the bronze with a time of 3:59.71 (+2.85). Dutch skaters Joy Beune (3:56.86) and Irene Schouten (+1.34) finished in first and second place, respectively. 

Fellow Canadians Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, Ont.) finished in 7th (+4.69), and Laura Hall (Salmon Arm, B.C.) finished in 13th, earning a personal best time of 4:08.12.

Maltais has had a strong season on the World Cup circuit so far, picking up two silver medals in the Team Pursuit in Tomaszów Mazowiecki and Obihiro, as well as Mass Start silver in Stavanger and bronze in Beijing. She is currently ranked in the top-10 of World Cup standings in both the Mass Start (2nd) and Long Distances (3rd).

The ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Salt Lake City continues tomorrow with the women’s and men’s 500m, 1500m and Team Pursuit. Races can be watched live on CBC Sports digital platforms, including CBCSports.ca and the CBC Gem app.

Quotes

“I’m happy with my result today! I adapted my strategy well following my race last week. Muncef was telling me where I stood in relation to the leader during my race, and that was really motivating! Physically I felt fine, but tactically and technically I still have a few things to improve. But today, I must take the time to celebrate and appreciate this medal!”

Valérie Maltais

Results

1000m

Maddison Pearman: 18th
Ivanie Blondin: 20th
Béatrice Lamarche: 6th (Division B)
Alexa Scott: 8th (Division B)
Alison Desmarais: 13th (Division B)
Connor Howe: 12th
Vincent De Haître: 18th
Laurent Dubreuil: 5th (Division B)
Yankun Zhao: 13th (Division B)
Cooper Emin: 18th (Division B)

3000m

Valérie Maltais: 3rd
Ivanie Blondin: 7th
Laura Hall: 13^th
Isabelle Weidemann: 1^st (Division B)
Abigail Mccluskey: 7^th (Division B)

Mass Start

Connor Howe: 12th
Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu: 19th