Team sprint gold highlights huge day for Canada at long track World Cup

After failing to find the podium on Saturday despite six top-10 finishes, Canada got back on track with four medals on Sunday, including a gold in men's team sprint, at the long track World Cup in Stavanger, Norway.

Men's sprint wins gold, women take bronze; Blondin, Bloemen capture silvers

Canada's men's team sprint won gold for the second consecutive week on Sunday, with Vincent De Haitre, left, Aex Boisvert-Lacroix, centre, and Gilmore Junio leading Canada to the top of the podium. (ISU)

After failing to find the podium on Saturday despite six top-10 finishes, Canada turned impressive performances into medals on Sunday at the long track World Cup in Stavanger, Norway.

Canada took home a medal in all four events, capturing a gold, two silvers and a bronze.

The gold came in the men's team sprint, which Canada also won last week in the Netherlands. 

Canada's Ivanie Blondin took home a silver in the women's 5,000-metre, and Ted-Jan Bloemen grabbed a silver of his own in the men's 10,000. 

To round out the big day, the women's team sprint won bronze.

Team sprint's repeat medals

The men's trio of Gilmore Junio (Calgary), Alex Boisvert-Lacroix (Sherbrooke, Que.), and Vincent De Haitre (Cumberland, Ont.) gave Canada their second-consecutive gold medal in the event, finishing in one minute, 19.52 seconds, 0.32 seconds ahead of Norway.

The U.S.A. rounded out the podium in third. 

The women's team also repeated last week's podium finish, taking home a bronze thanks to Marsha Hudey (White City, Sask.), Kali Christ (Regina) and Kaylin Irvine (Calgary).

Canadian men sprint to gold in Norway

7 years ago
Duration 2:49
Vincent De Haitre, Gilmore Junio and Alex Boisvert-Lacroix skated their way to a gold medal in the men's team sprint event at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Stavanger, Norway.

Canada grabs bronze in ladies sprint at Speed Skating World Cup

7 years ago
Duration 2:51
Marsha Hudey, Kaylin Irvine and Kali Christ posted a time of 1:28.85 to claim the last team sprint podium spot at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Stavanger, Norway

Blondin, Bloemen snag silver

Blondin clocked in just shy of the gold-medal position in the 5,000 at 6:57.34, just 0.74 back of first-place German Claudia Pechstein.

Ivanie Blondin captures silver at Speed Skating World Cup

7 years ago
Duration 8:14
The 27-year-old Canadian posted a time of 6:57.34 to win silver in the women's 5000m at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Stavanger, Norway.

Neither Blondin nor Pechstein were challenged for the top two spots, with the Czech Republic's Martina Sablikova 3.35 seconds behind the leader.

Canada's Isabelle Weidemann placed fourth. 

The story was much of the same with Bloemen, as he was the only one coming close to challenging for the top of the podium. 

Canada's Ted-Jan Bloemen snags silver medal in Norway

7 years ago
Duration 13:25
Bloemen finished 2nd in the men's 10000m with a time of 12:52.64 to win silver at the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Stavanger, Norway.

"When I skate to the best of my abilities, I have the best chance to win. I just try to skate as fast as I can every time out there and then we'll see where that gets me." said Bloemen. "If I'm able to skate my best race at the Olympics, I certainly could win a gold medal."

He finished 1.67 seconds back of Sven Kramer of the Netherlands. Bronze was awarded to the Netherlands' Erik-Jan Kooiman who was 6.16 seconds back of Kramer. 

Canadian Jordan Belchos was 10th.