Ivanie Blondin grabs 2 speed skating medals for Canada at Four Continents
Earns team sprint gold, 1,500m bronze; Men sprint to bronze at season opener
Ivanie Blondin helped Canada to a team sprint gold medal before picking up an individual bronze Friday as the season-opening ISU Four Continents speed skating championships opened in Hachinohe, Japan.
Ottawa's Blondin combined with Carolina Hiller of Prince George, B.C., and Beatrice Lamarche of Quebec City to win the women's team sprint in a track record time of one minute 27.87 seconds.
Lamarche used the slingshot technique to launch Blondin into the final lap, which helped the trio maintain their speed. While the move worked, Lamarche said it could be improved.
"The slingshot move felt better yesterday in practice, but it was not at high speed. Maybe we looked smooth, but I personally felt weird and rushed throughout the entire process," Lamarche said. "I'm excited to try it again during the World Cup in China because I think it can be better."
South Korea was 1.39 seconds off the pace for silver, while Kazakhstan was 2.49 seconds back of the winners to take bronze.
WATCH | Blondin helps Canadian women to team sprint gold medal:
Later, the 34-year-old Blondin took bronze in the women's 1,500 metres with a time of 1:57.99.
"I feel pretty good about my 1,500," Blondin said. "I was not able to warm down following the team sprint as we went straight to the medal ceremony. By the time that was over I had to put my skin suit on and get back on the ice.
"I didn't have the pop that I normally would, but midway through the race I realized things were going well and my legs were actually feeling pretty decent," Blondin added. "I was happy with the end time."
WATCH | Blondin's legs felt 'decent' in 1,500-metre performance:
Japan's Miho Takagi (1:54.86) and China's Mei Han (1:56.53) took gold and silver, respectively.
Canada reached the podium for a third time as Anders Johnson of Burnaby, B.C., Laurent Dubreuil of Levis, Que., and Yankun Zhao of Calgary, Alta., finished third in the men's team sprint.
WATCH | Canada's men collect team sprint bronze in Japan:
The United States (1:19.43) and China (1:19.78) finished ahead of Canada, the defending world champion and world record holder in the discipline.
"I think it was a good race for us," Johnson said. "It was a new setup for our team today and we executed well and skated well. We're happy with the result and excited to see what comes in the future."
The championships continue Saturday with Blondin, Dubreuil, Calgary's Ted-Jan Bloemen, Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., and Ottawa's Isabelle Weidemann looking to add to Canada's medal total.
WATCH | Full replay coverage of speed skating action from Hachinohe:
Other key dates:
- World Cup, Calgary (Jan. 24-26)
- World Cup, Milwaukee, Wisc. (Jan. 31-Feb. 2)
- World Cup, Zakopane, Poland (Feb. 21-23)
- World Cup, Heerenveen, Netherlands (Feb. 28-March 2)
- World single distance championships, Hamar, Norway (Feb. 15-18)
Canada roster
- Ted-Jan Bloemen (Calgary)
- Laurent Dubreuil (Lévis, Que.)
- Graeme Fish (Moose Jaw, Sask.)
- Connor Howe (Canmore, Alta.)
- Anders Johnson (Burnaby, B.C.)
- Tyson Langelaar (Winnipeg)
- David La Rue (Saint-Lambert, Que.)
- Hayden Mayeur (Toronto)
- Yankun Zhao (Calgary)
- Christopher Fiola (Montréal)
- Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa)
- Carolina Hiller (Prince George, B.C.)
- Béatrice Lamarche (Quebec City)
- Valérie Maltais (La Baie, Que.)
- Maddison Pearman (Ponoka, Alta.)
- Isabelle Weidemann (Ottawa)
