By Canadian Press

Canadian speedskaters Blondin, Maltais and Dubreuil reach World Cup podium in Beijing

Nov 18, 2023 | 10:09 AM

BEIJING — Canada won three medals at the speedskating World Cup stop in Beijing on Saturday.

In the women’s mass start, Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin won silver and Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., took bronze. Dutch skater Marijke Groenewoud claimed gold with a blistering time of eight minutes 24.71 seconds, more than 13 seconds faster than Blondin.

It was only the second time in World Cup history that Canada had two female skaters on the podium in the distance, the first happening last season in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland.

In the men’s 500 metres, Laurent Dubreuil of Lévis, Que., won a silver medal with a time of 34.81, just 0.12 seconds behind gold medallist Wataru Morishige of Japan.

Dubreuil’s silver marked his return to the World Cup podium after a slow start due to injuries.

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The World Cup event concludes Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18.

The Canadian Press