Francois Hamelin, Canadian speed skater, wins 1st World Cup gold medal

​Francois Hamelin left a lot on the ice Saturday in Nagoya, Japan but 24 hours later proclaimed he was perfect.

The Canadian short-track speed skater won his first-ever gold medal in an individual World Cup event, defeating Russia's Artem Kozlov and China's Chen Guang in the men's 500-metre race on Sunday.

"It was a perfect day," Hamelin, a native of Sainte-Julie, Que., said in a statement released by Speed Skating Canada. "It's not often I can say that, but it was the case for all my races today. They were all perfect."

Hamelin, who debuted on the senior international scene in the 2007-08 season, noted he grabbed a significant edge on his competition at the start of Sunday's race.

I've always believed I could get to this level and that I had potential. But ... there was always a blockage. Today, there wasn't any.- Canadian speed skater Francois Hamelin on his 1st World Cup individual gold medal

"After that I just went for it [the win], gave it my all and I was never in danger throughout the race," the 28-year-old added. "I'm really happy and I will savour this."

Hamelin, who was third in Saturday's 500 and shared the podium with his brother Charles, who won the event, said Sunday's victory was a reward for his hard work.

"I've always believed I could get to this level and that I had potential," said Francois Hamelin, a 2010 Olympic medallist in Vancouver who also competed last year at the Sochi Winter Games. "But for reasons that I can't quite grasp, there was always a blockage. Today, there wasn't any, and I'm really happy and proud of myself."

Career season

Sunday's medal represented Hamelin's third of the season after he won bronze at an ISU World Cup event in Toronto in early November. His previous single-season individual high was two in the 2010-11 campaign.

Canada captured five medals Sunday and has 24 on the season after three World Cup stages.

Audrey Phaneuf of Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., earned her first medal at a World Cup event, finishing third in the women's 500.

Competing in her sixth World Cup, the 19-year-old took advantage of a penalty handed to South Korea's Shim Suk Hee.

"I skated with confidence, but I was also a little bit tense because I know I'm young and I don't have much experience," said Phaneuf, who won silver in the 500 at last season's world junior championship. "Today was a big step."

6-for-6

Elsewhere, Marianne St-Gelais of Saint-Felicien, Que., extended her streak of individual podium finishes to six in as many events when she won silver in the 1,000, while Canada's men's and women's relay teams picked up bronze medals.

Meanwhile, the Canadian men's relay team of Francois Hamelin, Charle Cournoyer, Samuel Girard and Patrick Duffy was strong in an exciting final. The Netherlands and China finished first and second, respectively.

The women's squad, comprised of Valerie Maltais, Kasandra Bradette, St-Gelais and Phaneuf finished behind South Korea and China.

Other Canadian results:

Women's 1,000

• Namasthee Harris-Gauthier, 5th in quarter-finals and eliminated
• Kasandra Bradette, 6th in quarter-finals and eliminated

Women's 500

• Valerie Maltais, 3rd in quarter-finals and eliminated
• Kim Boutin, 3rd in quarter-finals and eliminated

Men's 1,000

• Charles Hamelin, penalty in "A" final
• Samuel Girard, 5th in quarter-finals and eliminated
• Charle Cournoyer, penalty in quarter-finals and eliminated