Blondin's mass start gold highlights 3-medal day for Canada's speed skaters at World Cup
Maltais, Bloemen add bronze medals on final day of racing at Utah Olympic Oval
Another week, another medal haul for Canada's long track speed skaters.
Ottawa's Ivanie Blondin won her second World Cup gold medal of the weekend on Sunday, edging reigning Olympic champion Irene Schouten of the Netherlands by 0.11 seconds in the women's mass start with a time of eight minutes 14.70 seconds.
La Baie, Que., native Valérie Maltais claimed bronze behind Schouten in 8:15.14 to help Canada finish with six medals over three days at the Utah Olympic Oval near Salt Lake City.
The 33-year-old Blondin finished behind Schouten for silver at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.
WATCH l Blondin wins gold, Maltais bronze in mass start:
It was only the third time in World Cup history that Canada had two women's skaters on the mass start podium, the first happening last season in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, and the most recent taking place earlier this season in Beijing.
Maltais is currently ranked first overall in the distance with 231 points with two bronze and one silver, but Blondin is only three points behind after winning two gold and two silver so far this season.
"I'm really happy with my performance in the Mass Start today! There was a lot of action and the pace was fast," Maltais said. "I was able to close the gap on attacking skaters two separate times and still managed to have the legs for the final sprint.
The Olympic gold-medal trio of Blondin, Maltais and Isabelle Weidemann won the women's team pursuit event on Saturday, while Maltais also took home bronze in the women's 3,000m on Friday.
Fellow Canadian Olympian Ted-Jan Bloemen of Calgary also reached the podium on Sunday, earning bronze in the men's 5,000m with a time of 6:06.88. Decorated Dutchman Patrick Roest won gold in a personal-best 6:02.98, while Italy's Davide Ghiotto also set a personal best to beat Bloemen (6:04.23).
WATCH l Bloemen skates to bronze in 5,000m:
"I was really happy to show that I've still got it today and that we found a way to still perform like this at 37 years old," Bloemen said. "I'm looking forward to world championships and giving it my all again to get on top of the podium at home in Calgary."
Canada's skaters won six gold and 12 total medals on the same ice at last week's Four Continents Championships.
The World Cup season wraps up in Quebec City next weekend before the world championships kick off in Calgary (Feb. 15-18). Watch live coverage on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.
WATCH l Replay of Day 3 coverage:
With files from Speed Skating Canada
