Canada’s men’s short track relay team, aiming to defend their title at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, finished last in the 5,000-meter final, with the Netherlands clinching gold for the first time in the event with a time of 6:51.847. The Canadian team comprising Steven Dubois, Will Dandjinou, Félix Roussel, and Maxime Laoun slipped from a potential bronze position in the final laps, clocking in at 6:52.425.
Expressing disappointment, Dubois mentioned the team’s dissatisfaction with the outcome and their plan to review the race before gearing up for the upcoming world championships in March. Despite the setback, Dubois was vying for a sixth Olympic medal, a feat that would have equaled the Canadian record held by Charles Hamelin, Kim Boutin, and Cindy Klassen.
The silver and bronze medals were secured by South Korea and Italy, respectively, with times of 6:52.239 and 6:52.335 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. The Dutch team, led by Melle and Jens van ‘t Wout, Teun Boer, and Friso Emons, outpaced their competitors in the final laps, adding to the Netherlands’ successful short-track performance at the Games.
In the women’s 1,500 meters, all three Canadian contenders were eliminated from medal contention in the semifinals. Courtney Sarault claimed a silver in the B final, while Danaé Blais finished seventh. Sarault, a key member of the Canadian relay team, had earlier contributed to Canada’s podium finish in the 3,000 relay event.
The A final of the women’s 1,500 meters saw Kim Gilli of South Korea securing gold, denying her compatriot Minjeong Choi a third consecutive Olympic gold. Corinne Stoddard of the United States broke a 16-year dry spell for American women by clinching the bronze medal.
Stoddard set the pace in the final race, with Choi taking the lead in the closing laps before being overtaken by Gilli for the win. Despite Fontana’s attempt to match Marit Bjørgen’s Winter Olympic medal count, the Italian skater finished fifth in the 1,500 meters after earlier successes in the relay events.