Canadian short track speed skater Will Dandjinou showcased his prowess at the men’s World Tour circuit in Gdansk, Poland. The Montreal athlete clinched victories in both the men’s 1,500 and 500 meter finals, spearheading a successful day for the Canadian Ice Maples at the Hala Olivia Arena. Dandjinou’s fellow team members, Courtney Sarault and Steven Dubois, secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Dandjinou, aged 24, crossed the finish line in the men’s 1,500m final in a time of two minutes and 24.153 seconds, surpassing Italians Thomas Nadalini and Pietro Sighel. Dubois, hailing from Terrebonne, Que., finished sixth in the final with a time of 2:24.834.
Expressing his satisfaction after winning the 1,500 final, Dandjinou remarked, “It feels great. It’s always challenging to anticipate how events will unfold, and I believe I’ve been performing exceptionally well this season. Managing different ice conditions is tough, so delivering under varying circumstances is always rewarding.”
In the men’s 500m final, Dandjinou maintained his momentum, securing gold in 40.849 seconds. Xiaojun Lin of China claimed silver, while Dubois captured the bronze medal in 41.505 seconds.
Reflecting on his triumph in the 500m event, Dandjinou highlighted the camaraderie within the team, stating, “It’s a special moment, especially sharing the podium with Steven [Dubois]. We demonstrated excellent teamwork, aiming to secure three podium spots. Félix [Roussel] was very close, showcasing an impressive performance. Hopefully, we’ll witness him on the podium again next week.”
With these victories, Dandjinou has now amassed five gold medals this season, solidifying his lead in the overall standings. He has garnered 642 points from races this season, holding a substantial lead over his nearest competitor, Sighel. Dubois follows closely behind, trailing Sighel by 10 points in third place.
In the women’s 1,000m final, Sarault claimed the silver medal with a time of 1:30.575. Hanna Desmet from Belgium secured the gold, while American Corrine Stoddard clinched the bronze. Florence Brunelle from Trois-Rivières, Que., finished fourth with a time of 1:30.716.
Sarault leads the overall standings with 570 points, with Stoddard closely behind in second place with 480 points. Sarault expressed her satisfaction with the silver medal, acknowledging the challenging ice conditions and emphasizing the importance of strategic racing.
The Gdansk event coverage will continue on Sunday at 8:05 a.m. ET, available for live streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. Viewers can refer to the CBC Sports broadcast schedule for additional information on watching short track events this season.