Key Takeaways
- Canada’s women’s speedskating team, consisting of Isabelle Weidemann, Valerie Maltais, and Ivanie Blondin, won gold in the team pursuit event at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating competition.
- The team overcame a slow start to take the top spot, finishing in 2:57.20 seconds, just ahead of the United States.
- Ivanie Blondin also won bronze in the women’s mass start event, finishing in 8:24.47 seconds, behind Dutch rivals Marijke Groenewoud and Bente Kerkhoff.
- Canada’s speedskaters will next compete at the Long Track Canada Cup in Quebec City, where team spots for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics will be filled.
- The 2025-26 international speedskating season will conclude with a final World Cup stop in Inzell, Germany, from January 23-25.
Introduction to Canada’s Speedskating Team
The Canadian women’s speedskating team has been making waves in the international speedskating scene, with a recent gold medal win in the team pursuit event at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating competition. The team, consisting of Isabelle Weidemann, Valerie Maltais, and Ivanie Blondin, has been working tirelessly to perfect their technique and strategy, and their hard work has paid off. In the team pursuit event, the Canadians faced off against tough competition from the United States and Japan, but managed to come out on top, finishing in 2:57.20 seconds.
The Team Pursuit Event
The team pursuit event is a thrilling and strategic competition, where teams of three skaters take turns skating laps around the track, with the goal of completing the distance in the fastest time possible. In this particular event, the Canadian team got off to a slow start, with Weidemann slipping off the start and the team chasing the leaders for most of the race. However, the Canadians were able to gradually chip away at the lead, overtaking their opponents in the final 200 meters to take the top spot. Weidemann credited the team’s strategy and communication for their win, saying "We were just trying to make up the time in the last few laps and we managed – barely."
Ivanie Blondin’s Bronze Medal Win
In addition to the team pursuit event, Ivanie Blondin also competed in the women’s mass start event, where she won a bronze medal. The mass start event is a high-energy competition, where skaters start together and race to the finish line, with the top three skaters earning medals. Blondin shadowed Dutch rival Marijke Groenewoud for much of the race, but was unable to overtake her in the final sprint. Despite this, Blondin was able to hold off other competitors to take the bronze medal, finishing in 8:24.47 seconds, just behind Groenewoud and winner Bente Kerkhoff of the Netherlands.
Canada’s Speedskating Season
The Canadian speedskating team has had a successful season so far, with several podium finishes in World Cup events. The team’s win in the team pursuit event marked their first World Cup victory in the event since January 2024, and they finished the season ranked first overall, ahead of Japan. The team will next compete at the Long Track Canada Cup in Quebec City, where the remaining team spots for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics will be filled. The 2025-26 international speedskating season will conclude with a final World Cup stop in Inzell, Germany, from January 23-25, although team pursuit races are not on the schedule.
Conclusion and Future Competitions
In conclusion, the Canadian women’s speedskating team has had a remarkable season, with several podium finishes and a gold medal win in the team pursuit event. The team’s hard work and dedication have paid off, and they will look to continue their success in future competitions. With the Long Track Canada Cup and the final World Cup stop in Inzell, Germany, still to come, the Canadian speedskaters will have plenty of opportunities to fine-tune their skills and prepare for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. As the team looks to the future, they will be focused on perfecting their technique, building their endurance, and developing their strategy, all with the goal of bringing home more medals and making Canada proud.
