NUR-SULTAN, KAZAKHSTAN – For the second time this season, Ottawa natives Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann stood together on the podium in an ISU World Cup Speed Skating long-distance event, earning the 5000m gold and bronze medals on Friday. Alex Boisvert-Lacroix also skated to a bronze medal in the 500m in Kazakhstan, his first individual podium finish since the 2017-18 season.
Blondin captured her first career gold medal in the ladies’ 5000m with a time of 6:54.945, a new track record for the Alau Ice Palace in Nur-Sultan. Weidemann took bronze behind current world record holder Martina Sáblíková of the Czech Republic. Weidemann and Blondin now sit second and third, respectively, in the long-distance World Cup rankings after three events.
After winning Division B during the last World Cup stop in Poland, Boisvert-Lacroix (Sherbrooke, Que.) capitalized on his return to the main group to win a bronze medal in the men’s 500m with a time of 34.730. The only faster times on Friday were skated by Russians Viktor Mushtakov and Ruslan Murashov. The medal marks Boisvert-Lacroix’s return to world-class form after suffering a herniated disk in his back last year.
Other Results to Note
- Laurent Dubreuil (Lévis, Que.) skated in the final pairing of the 500m, crossing the line in a time of 34.879 to finish sixth. He currently sits fourth overall in the World Cup standings for the distance.
- Valérie Maltais (Saguenay, Que.) and Béatrice Lamarche (Quebec City, Que.) both finished third in Division B of their races, completing the 5000m in 7:10.670 and the 1000m in 1:17.191, respectively.
- The men’s team sprint, having won two bronze medals so far this season, did not finish their race after one of the Canadians fell coming out of a corner in the first lap.
The World Cup in Nur-Sultan continues on Saturday with the ladies' 500m, men's 1000m and men's 10,000m events. Competition will be available via live stream on CBC Sports beginning at 7:00 am ET. |
