Bloemen continues stellar season with 5,000m long track bronze

Ted-Jan Bloemen brought home Canada's only medal in World Cup long track speed skating on Saturday, gliding to a bronze in a 5,000-metre in Erfurt, Germany, his fourth podium finish in as many races in that distance.

Bloemen, who set the world record in the event earlier in the season, finished with a time of six minutes 17.11 seconds, 2.45 seconds behind the leader. 

"I'm really happy with my execution and the way this race turned out," said Bloemen. "I executed my plan really well and came up with a really consistent race.

"Overall I'm pretty happy and this was a really good preparation for the Olympics," added Bloemen.

He sits atop the World Cup rankings with 410 points.

Toronto's Jordan Belchos and Ben Donnelly of Oshawa, Ont., finished 15th and 16th respectively.

Bloemen builds on World Cup lead with bronze finish

7 years ago

Duration 9:35

Canadian Ted-Jan Bloemen took home the bronze medal at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup, 5000m event in Erfurt, Germany with a time of 6:17.11. Bloemen remains in top spot of the World Cup Men 5000m standings after five of six events.

Norway's Sverre Lunde Pedersen won gold in 6:14.66, and Italy's Nicola Tumolero took silver in 6:16.11.

In the men's 1,000, Canadians Vincent De Haitre and Alexandre St-Jean finished 10th and 12th, respectively. De Haitre is now sixth in the World Cup rankings in the event with 224 points.

Ottawa's Ivanie Blondin placed sixth in the women's 1,500, with Brianne Tutt, from Airdrie, Alta, coming 11th. 

"I think that right now, for this weekend, it's more of a mental game. My body might not be feeling super great, but I have the right mindset and I am positive," said Blondin. "As part of my final preparation, I approach these races this weekend like I would at the Olympics and I think I really nailed that today. I'm really looking forward to the 3'000m tomorrow and to seeing what I'll be able to do there."