Canada Wins Speedskating Team Pursuit Gold | World Cup #1 Finish

Canada Strikes Gold and bronze at ISU World Cup Speed Skating Competition

Canada’s speed skating team delivered a strong performance at the recent ISU World Cup competition, securing a gold medal in the team pursuit and a bronze in the women’s mass start event on Sunday. The victories signal a promising trajectory for the team as they look ahead to the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Team Pursuit Triumph

Isabelle Weidemann of Ottawa, Valerie Maltais of La Baie, Quebec, and Ivanie Blondin, also from Ottawa, powered Canada to their first team pursuit gold of 2025. The team overcame a challenging start, gradually closing the gap on their competitors and ultimately overtaking them in the final 200 meters.

“I slipped off the start, and we were chasing the whole time,” a team member explained. “We were just trying to make up the time in the last few laps, and we managed – barely.”

Canada finished with a winning time of two minutes and 57.20 seconds, narrowly defeating the United States (2:57.29). Japan rounded out the podium with a bronze medal in 2:58.62. This victory marks Canada’s first World Cup win in the women’s team pursuit since january 2024 in Salt Lake City.

Did you know? – Team pursuit is a relay-style race where skaters alternate leading the pack, aiming for strategic drafting and speed maintenance. It requires both individual strength and seamless teamwork.

Building Momentum

The Canadian team has demonstrated consistent advancement this season, adding to their gold medal with silver medals earlier in the season in both Salt Lake City and Calgary. This success represents a notable turnaround from last season, where they did not reach the podium. The defending Olympic champions concluded the World Cup season ranked first overall with 169 points, edging out Japan (156 points).

pro tip: – Speedskaters often use specialized tape on their suits to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics, shaving crucial fractions of a second off their times.

Blondin Secures Individual Bronze

In the women’s mass start event,Ivanie Blondin,35,showcased her endurance and tactical skill. She closely tracked Dutch skater Marijke Groenewoud throughout much of the race, but ultimately couldn’t surpass her in the final sprint.

Blondin crossed the finish line in 8:24.47, earning a bronze medal. The Netherlands’ Bente Kerkhoff claimed gold in 8:23.19, with Groenewoud taking silver in 8:24.28. Fellow

Reader question: – What strategies do you think are most important for success in the mass start event, considering its unpredictable nature?

Canada’s top speedskaters will next compete at the Long Track canada Cup in Quebec City from January 3-6. this event will be crucial for finalizing the team roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. The 2025-26 international speedskating season will conclude with one final World Cup stop in Inzell, Germany, from January 23-25, though team pursuit races will not be included on the schedule for that event.