Canada's Dubreuil breaks national record to win gold at Calgary speed skating World Cup

Canada's Laurent Dubreuil put an exclamation mark on a successful World Cup season on Friday in Calgary.

The Canadian mark had stood since Jeremy Wotherspoon lowered it to 34.03 seconds in 2007. Dubreuil came close to the mark last week in Salt Lake City, crossing the finish line in what was then a personal-best 34.05 seconds.

The world record of 33.61 seconds belongs to Russia's Pavel Kulizhnikov, who achieved the feat in 2019.

WATCH | Dubreuil smashes national record to win gold:

Canada's Laurent Dubreuil skates to World Cup gold in Calgary

3 years ago

Duration 1:44

Laurent Dubreuil of Levis, QC., captured gold at the Calgary World Cup long track speed skating event in Calgary Friday setting a new 500 metre Canadian record with a time of 33.778.

China's Tingyu Gao scored silver in 33.876 seconds, while Japan's Yuma Murakami took bronze at 33.898.

Calgary marks the final World Cup event of the season, with the men's 500m to be contested again on Sunday. Dubreuil, 29, will also compete in the men's 1,500 that day.

WATCH l Beijing Today - Laurent Dubreuil:

Beijing Today: Laurent Dubreuil

3 years ago

Duration 1:36

Setting a new national record in the men's 500-metres isn't enough for Levis, Quebec native Laurent Dubreuil, as his main goal is to win at the Beijing Olympics.

Weidemann win's 3k-metre silver

In the women's 3,000-metre race, Ottawa's Isabelle Weidemann set a personal best with a time of 3:55.33 to win silver.

Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida won gold in a time of 3:54.43, while Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic finished third in 3:55.50.

Valerie Maltais of Saguenay, Que. placed in sixth in 3:59.73, while Ottawa's Ivanie Blondin clocked a time of 4:01.86 to finish 14th.

WATCH | Weidemann wins silver, sets personal best:

Canada's Isabelle Weidemann skates to World Cup silver medal in Calgary

3 years ago

Duration 4:32

Ottawa's Isabelle Weidemann clocked a personal best time of 3:55.334 Friday in the 3000 metre World Cup race at the Calgary oval claiming a silver medal.

In the women's 500m race, Russia's Olga Fatkulina set a personal best time of 36.72 on her way to winning gold. Japan's Nao Kodaira won silver in 36.81, while Russia's Angelina Golikova earned bronze in 36.82.

Masha Hudey of White City, Sask., was top Canadian in 18th place in a time of 38.05.

Action from Calgary continues on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.

The Canadian contingent includes 16 men and 11 women and it's the last chance for the skaters to pre-qualify spots at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

WATCH | Cassie Sharpe's comeback, Mikael Kingsbury's hunt for gold on tap this weekend:

Weekend lookahead: Kingsbury's gold medal hunt continues, Kingsbury's hunt for gold medal #67, Women's Monobob showdown

3 years ago

Duration 2:06

A look-ahead to a packed weekend on CBC Sports broadcast and streaming, featuring Cassie Sharpe and Mikael Kingsbury in freestyle skiing, the Para Nordic World Cup, the women's World Monobob Series and more