Canadian speed skater Isabelle Weidemann clinched a silver medal in the women’s 3,000 meters during the World Cup event held in Hamar, Norway. Weidemann, hailing from Ottawa, overcame a slow start and surpassed her pair mate Ragne Wiklund of Norway to secure second place with a time of four minutes and 1.30 seconds. Marijke Groenewoud from the Netherlands claimed the gold medal, while Weidemann expressed her satisfaction with the performance.
Weidemann reflected on her rivalry with Wiklund throughout the season, emphasizing the importance of finding the right pace during the race. She acknowledged her tendency to struggle initially but showcased her ability to excel once she hits her stride, causing difficulties for her competitors.
Fellow Canadians Valerie Maltais from La Baie, Que., and Ivanie Blondin from Ottawa finished fourth and tenth, respectively, in the same event. Weidemann’s achievement in securing a silver medal in the 5,000 meters last Friday marked her first medal of the season.
As the World Cup events served as Olympic qualifiers, Weidemann stands second overall with 191 points in the women’s long distances, positioning herself ahead of teammate Maltais. These results position them well for potential selection to represent Canada at the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics. In a separate event, Beatrice Lamarche from Quebec City placed tenth in the women’s 1,000 meters.
On the men’s side, Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen finished fifth in the 5,000 meters, with gold medallist Metoděj Jílek setting a track record. Viewers can catch the live coverage of Sunday’s competition on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem, starting at 7 a.m. ET. The complete streaming schedule is accessible through a provided link.