The Canadian short track speed skating team showcased impressive performances at the ISU World Tour event in Montreal, securing three more medals. Courtney Sarault of Moncton, N.B., claimed her second consecutive gold medal by winning the women’s 1,500m final in a time of 2:22.156, outpacing South Korea’s Kim Gil-li and American Corinne Stoddard. Sarault, a silver medallist in the same distances at last year’s world championships, expressed satisfaction with her performance, attributing her success to hard work and training.
Fellow Canadian Olympian Kim Boutin clinched silver in the women’s 500m event, marking her return to the podium after not achieving an individual distance podium finish last season. Boutin expressed joy and relief at being able to compete with top skaters in the 500m category, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining a defensive position during the race.
Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands set a new world record with a time of 41.416, surpassing Boutin’s previous record, during the 2022 World Cup. In the mixed team relay, the Canadian Ice Maples secured a bronze medal after the Korean White Tigers were disqualified, with the Chinese Loongs claiming gold and the Dutch Lions moving up to silver.
The ongoing World Tour season will determine each country’s Olympic entries and participants in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. Athletes earn points throughout the season, with Crystal Globe trophies awarded to top skaters in each distance and an overall champion. Canada leads the medal standings with seven medals, including three gold, one silver, and three bronze, positioning them ahead of South Korea, China, and Italy. Sarault leads the women’s trophy race with 250 points.
Montreal will host the next World Tour stop before heading to Poland and the Netherlands. The world championships are scheduled to take place in Montreal in March, following the Olympics. Live coverage of the events is available on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.