Short track world championships: Charles Hamelin nabs gold, but overall title eludes him

Canadian short track speed skating star Charles Hamelin raced to another gold medal at the world championships in Seoul, South Korea on Sunday, but it was still not enough to help him capture the only title he's never held over his illustrious career.

The overall world title was taken by China's Han Tianyu, who was helped by the Sainte-Julie, Que., native's fall in qualifying for the 500-metre event on Friday. That slip-up ensured Hamelin could not reach the podium in that event, severely limiting his chances at scoring the overall crown.

"Obviously, I would have rather come up with better results on Friday and Saturday, because I lost a chance to earn some points there that could have allowed me to be in a better position to battle for the title today," Hamelin said. "But I'm very happy with how I did today, and the way I came back."

On Sunday, Hamelin took gold in the 1000m final, with teammate Samuel Girard close behind with the silver medal.

"Charles [Hamelin] led the way in front and I was able to block two skaters, which allowed us to take control and make life hard for the others," Girard said. "Second behind Charles, that's great."

Hamelin and Girard qualified for the 3000m. Hamelin came in third behind China's Han Tianyu and South Korea's Park Se Yeong, while Girard was eighth.

The two also teamed up with Charle Cournoyer and Sasha Fathoullin for silver in the 5000m men's relay.

On the women's side, Marianne St-Gelais posted a second-overall finish at worlds, just three points back of South Korea's Mingjeong Choi. The St.Felicien, Que., native had gold and silver in Saturday's 1500m and 500m events before a fifth place finish in Sunday's 3000m super final, and a third-place finish in the 1000m semifinal.

"I would have liked to do better in the 1000m, a distance where I know I'm able to compete with the best skaters, but I'm still quite satisfied with my weekend," St-Gelais said. "I came here to win a world title, which I did in the 1500m, and to finish among the top-3 overall and I was second, so I did more than reach my goals."

Canada's Kasandra Bradette took bronze in the 1000m event.

The Canadian women's relay team of St-Gelais, Bradette, Namasthée Harris-Gauthier, and Audrey Phaneuf also scored a silver medal, with South Korea winning gold and Russia taking bronze.