Canada’s Sprinters Secure Gold, Stolz Dominates Calgary World Cup
The Canadian speedskating team salvaged a challenging weekend at the Calgary World Cup with a thrilling gold medal performance in the women’s team sprint. Ivanie Blondin, Carolina Hiller, and Beatrice Lamarche combined their speed and strategy to claim victory, providing a much-needed boost for the host nation. This victory was particularly significant as Canadian skaters had been shut out of individual medals for the first time in 28 years of World Cup racing in Calgary. The win injected a surge of positive energy into the team, reaffirming their potential on the global stage. Blondin, who had finished fourth in the women’s mass start just an hour before the sprint, expressed immense satisfaction with the team’s accomplishment, acknowledging the tough weekend they had endured. The gold medal provided a moment of celebration and pride for the Canadian team.
While the Canadian team celebrated their sprint triumph, American speedskating star Jordan Stolz continued his dominant performance, completing a hat trick of gold medals at the Olympic Oval. The 20-year-old phenom remained unbeaten in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m distances this season, demonstrating remarkable consistency and speed. Stolz’s impressive 500m time of 33.85 seconds was just two-hundredths of a second faster than Dutch skater Jenning De Boo, who also finished second to Stolz in the 1000m. The Calgary World Cup served as a confidence booster for Stolz heading into the next competition in his home state of Wisconsin. He acknowledged the pressure often associated with returning to racing after a break but expressed a sense of calm and comfort knowing he would be competing on his home track. Stolz anticipated the enthusiastic crowd and fast ice conditions in Milwaukee, eager to maintain his winning streak.
The Canadian team’s overall performance in Calgary was marked by challenges, particularly for the middle- and long-distance skaters. Coming off a high-altitude training camp in Utah just a week prior, the Canadian athletes struggled to find their peak form. Notable athletes like Isabelle Weidemann, a 2022 Olympic silver medalist, and Graeme Fish, a world championship bronze medalist, finished fifth in their respective 5000m and 10000m races. Blondin acknowledged the team’s struggles with fatigue, attributing their subpar performances to the demanding training regimen leading up to the World Championships. While disappointed with the lack of individual medals, the team remained focused on their ultimate goal of peak performance at the World Championships in Hamar, Norway.
Despite the challenges, the Canadian team remained optimistic about their future prospects. Laurent Dubreuil, a seasoned veteran and former world champion, emphasized the importance of appreciating every medal and acknowledging the fierce competition in speedskating. Dubreuil, who finished fifth in the men’s 500m, believed he still had the potential to win, particularly against his rival Stolz. He expressed his desire to defeat Stolz before the end of his career, targeting the upcoming World Championships or the next Olympics as prime opportunities. Dubreuil’s perspective highlighted the team’s resilience and determination to overcome adversity and achieve future success.
The team sprint event, while not an Olympic discipline, offered an exciting spectacle of speed and teamwork. Three skaters from each country race head-to-head against another team, with one skater dropping out after each of the first two laps. The final skater, typically a middle-distance specialist, sprints to the finish line. The Canadian men’s team, consisting of Dubreuil, Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu, and Anderson Johnson, had set a world record en route to winning gold at the 2024 World Championships. In Calgary, the team of Dubreuil, Johnson, and Connor Howe finished fourth. The women’s team sprint gold medal provided a welcome triumph for the Canadian team.
Beyond the Canadian and American storylines, other notable performances included Femke Kok of the Netherlands winning the women’s 500m, Timothy Loubineaud of France claiming victory in the men’s mass start, and American Greta Myers prevailing in the women’s mass start. Blondin, competing in the women’s mass start, found herself isolated from the leading pack late in the race. She described the frustrating situation where a breakaway group formed, and no one was willing to collaborate to chase them down. Blondin’s solo effort proved insufficient to catch the leaders, highlighting the tactical complexities of the mass start event. The Calgary World Cup served as an important stepping stone for the speedskating world, setting the stage for the upcoming World Championships and beyond. The performances, triumphs, and challenges experienced in Calgary provided valuable lessons and motivation for the athletes as they continued their pursuit of excellence on the ice.
