Canada’s speed skating team had a successful day on Sunday, with the top-ranked women in team pursuit securing a gold medal. Valérie Maltais, Ivanie Blondin, and Isabelle Weidemann clinched victory in a time of 2 minutes and 57.20 seconds, outpacing the United States (2:57.29) and Japan (2:58.62) in Hamar, Norway. Despite a slow start, the Canadian team steadily closed the gap and surged ahead in the final 200 meters.
Weidemann, who also claimed silver in the women’s 3,000 meters the day before, reflected on their performance, acknowledging the initial setback and the team’s determination to catch up in the later laps. This win marked Canada’s first World Cup triumph in women’s team pursuit since January 2024.
The trio of Weidemann, Maltais, and Blondin had previously secured silver medals in Salt Lake City and Calgary this season after a medal-less campaign last year. With this victory, the reigning Olympic champions concluded the season atop the rankings with 169 points, ahead of Japan with 156 points.
Looking ahead to the Olympics, Weidemann emphasized the competitive landscape, noting the strength of several teams vying for podium positions. The long track team’s successful season continued as Blondin claimed bronze in the women’s mass start, bringing Canada’s total medal count to 15 across four events.
Blondin, alongside fellow Ottawa native Maltais, expressed satisfaction with their performances and highlighted the need to learn from past mistakes. With a break on the horizon, the athletes are gearing up for the Canada Cup in January to finalize the Olympic team spots for the upcoming Winter Games in Italy. The international speed skating season will culminate with a final World Cup event in Inzell, Germany.
In other results from Sunday, Canadian skaters competed in various disciplines, including the women’s and men’s 500 meters and the men’s mass start. The action-packed day in Hamar showcased the talents of speed skaters from around the world, setting the stage for the upcoming competitions.