Canadian speed skater Ivanie Blondin celebrated a memorable victory in the World Cup mass start event on Sunday, marking her final win on Canadian soil before retiring at the end of the season. The 35-year-old thrilled the crowd at Calgary’s Olympic Oval as she surged ahead in the intense final stretch of long-track speed skating’s most unpredictable race.
Blondin, who clinched the Olympic mass start silver medal in 2022, expressed her emotional connection to the event, stating that it was likely her last World Cup competition on home ice. Surrounded by family, sponsors, and friends, Blondin emphasized her strong desire to secure victory on this special occasion.
Having trained extensively at the Calgary Oval for many years and competed in numerous World Cup and world championship races, Blondin’s win added to her impressive record of 88 World Cup medals, including 11 gold medals in the mass start discipline. The mass start race, consisting of 16 laps with multiple sprints and featuring a dynamic passing strategy akin to short track speed skating, showcased Blondin’s expertise and determination.
Blondin’s Canadian teammate Valérie Maltais, a former short track skater like Blondin, also demonstrated her skill in the mass start event, finishing fourth on Sunday. The Dutch skater Marijke Groenewoud claimed the second spot, while American Mia Manganello narrowly edged out Maltais for the third position.
The Canadian team’s success extended beyond individual events, as Ottawa’s Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann, along with Maltais from La Baie, Que., secured a silver medal in the women’s team pursuit race, trailing behind the dominant Dutch team. The Canadian trio’s consistent performance earned them a podium finish for the second consecutive week, following their silver medal in Salt Lake City.
Reflecting on the team’s achievements, Weidemann highlighted the importance of maintaining consistency and expressed pride in their performance. The Canadian team’s collective effort resulted in a total of four medals – one gold, one silver, and two bronze – in the second World Cup event leading up to the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy.
In other events, American speed skater Jordan Stolz continued his impressive form in Calgary, securing victory in the men’s 500m race and placing third in the men’s mass start competition. The Dutch team dominated the women’s 500m event, with Femke Kok claiming her second gold medal in two days.
As the Canadian team prepares for upcoming World Cup events in Europe, the strong performances in Calgary have set a positive tone for their future competitions.