Canada’s Valerie Maltais wins World Cup speed skating silver in Beijing
Canadian long-track speedskater Valerie Maltais had an impressive performance at the Beijing World Cup, earning a silver medal in the women’s mass start competition. The gold went to Marijke Groenewoud of the Netherlands, who finished in eight minutes and 27.62 seconds. Despite initially finishing second, Ottawa native Ivanie Blondin was later disqualified due to body contact with another skater, leading to Maltais being awarded the silver with a time of 8:28.97. China’s Binyu Yang took home the bronze in 8:29.72.
This marked Maltais’ first World Cup podium appearance of the season, showcasing her skill and determination on the ice. The race was intense and competitive, with each skater pushing themselves to the limit to secure a top spot.
In other events, Canada narrowly missed the podium in the team sprint races. The Netherlands claimed the women’s gold, followed by Poland and the United States. Blondin, Carolina Hiller, and Beatrice Lamarche represented Canada and finished in fourth place. On the men’s side, the Dutch team secured gold, with the United States taking silver and China bronze. The Canadian team, comprised of Anders Johnson, Christopher Fiola, and Yankun Zhao, finished just outside the podium in fourth place.
The ISU World Cup circuit will continue next month with a stop in Calgary from January 24-26. This event promises to be another exciting opportunity for speedskaters to showcase their talents and compete at a high level.
For fans looking to catch up on all the action, full replay coverage of Sunday’s events is available. Additionally, key dates for upcoming World Cup races and the World single distance championships in Norway are highlighted, providing a roadmap of exciting speedskating events to look forward to in the coming months.
Overall, the Beijing World Cup was a thrilling showcase of talent and determination, with athletes like Valerie Maltais shining bright on the ice. Fans can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for these incredible speedskaters as they continue to push the boundaries of their sport.
