Canada’s 5000m relay set the record at the second World Cup of the short track speed skating season in Salt Lake City on Sunday.
• Also read: Speed Skating: Third consecutive title for Dubois
Gold medalists at the Olympic Games in Beijing last February, Canada had to settle for bronze at the start of the World Championships in Montreal last weekend. At the controls after two overflows, Pascal Dion fell when the ice gave way under his runners.
This time the quartet of Dion, Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Maxime Laoun finally took control with ten laps to go and drove to victory ahead of South Korea, who had claimed gold in the metropolis, and China.
“It really wasn’t a day like we would have liked on an individual level for each of the guys on the team, so we knew we had to go back to the relay,” said Pierre-Gilles. It ends the competition well and I’m really looking forward to the next stages of the World Championship. »
The 3000 m relay also did well with a silver medal. The quartet of Kim Boutin, Danaé Blais, Courtney Sarault and Renee Marie Steenge only gave way to South Korea. Steenge found himself in first place with four laps to go but South Korea came back strong.
“I’m super happy with our race,” said Kim Boutin. We put on a new order and tried out a few things. We said to ourselves that if the race starts slowly, we’ll make fast progress. We did that and we were ready to attack. »
answers to his questions
On an individual level, Boutin was calm compared to last week in Montreal, where she had a lot of thoughts.
“When you invest a lot in a program and you don’t get the results you want, it’s normal to be disappointed and question yourself,” said the four-time Olympic champion. I spoke a lot to the coaches. They have their plan and that gives me peace of mind. »
Gold medalist in the 500m on Saturday, Boutin finished 8th in the 1000m B final on Sunday.
“I didn’t have the legs I wanted, but I fought and I learned things,” she said. These new tools will come in handy later in the season. »
Rather than compete in next week’s Four Continents Championship in Salt Lake City, Boutin will return to Montreal. “I’m going to rest and make sure I get rid of any residual fatigue,” she explained. I will then complete a training cycle to prepare for the next two stages of the World Cup in Kazakhstan. »
Claudia Gagnon will replace Boutin at the Four Continents Championship.
Two individual medals
In just her second World Cup career, Rikki Doak won her first individual medal. The New Brunswick skater won bronze in the 500m, just ahead of teammate Danaé Blais, who placed 4th. For Blais, it was his second career A final in the 500m after last Sunday in Montreal.
For her part, Courtney Sarault won silver in the 1000 m. For the 2021 vice world champion, it is the first individual medal this season.
“I am so happy with my performance. I decided to stop doubting and give it my all and it paid off. It feels good to be back on the podium. »