{"id":9784,"date":"2023-03-02T16:56:13","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T21:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/speedskating.ca\/?p=9784"},"modified":"2023-03-02T17:27:07","modified_gmt":"2023-03-02T22:27:07","slug":"canada-wins-mens-and-womens-team-sprint-titles-at-world-championship-in-heerenveen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/speedskating.ca\/canada-wins-mens-and-womens-team-sprint-titles-at-world-championship-in-heerenveen\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada wins men\u2019s and women\u2019s Team Sprint titles at World Championships in Heerenveen"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Val\u00e9rie Maltais earns career-best fifth place finish in 3000m<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS \u2013 It was a golden day for Canada at the ISU World Speed Skating Championships<\/a> in Heerenveen, as both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s squads were crowned Team Sprint world champions to kick off the season-ending competition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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A gold medal skate from Ivanie Blondin, Carolina Hiller and Brooklyn McDougall helped Canada reach its first podium of the event, and the Quebec trio of Christopher Fiola, Laurent Dubreuil and Antoine G\u00e9linas-Beaulieu followed up with a second title only a few moments later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Blondin (Ottawa, Ont.), Hiller (Prince George, B.C.) and McDougall (Calgary, Alta.) were in synch the entire race, grabbing the lead following the first of three laps and never looking back. They posted a time of 1:26.29 to defeat the United States (+0.29), who were reigning World Cup champions, and China (+1.57).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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With the win, the trio adds World Championship gold to the three World Cup silver medals they captured earlier this season. It\u2019s Canada\u2019s second World Championship podium in the women\u2019s Team Sprint, having also won silver back in 2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Not to be outdone, Fiola (Montreal, Que.), Dubreuil (L\u00e9vis, Que.) and G\u00e9linas-Beaulieu (Sherbrooke, Que.) made some history of their own by winning Canada\u2019s first World Championship medal in the men\u2019s Team Sprint since the discipline was introduced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The trio \u2013 who last skated together at the World Cup in Calgary last December \u2013 overcame a bit of a sloppy start to claim the top spot. Sitting third after the opener, G\u00e9linas-Beaulieu caught up to his teammates and proceeded to find another gear, putting forth a tremendous solo lap to secure gold. The Canadians crossed the line in 1:19.26, ahead of the hometown Dutch (+0.41) and Norwegians (+0.54).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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