SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – A long summer of training paid off for speed skaters Béatrice Lamarche and Valérie Maltais, as both women reached the podium Friday evening at the first ISU World Cup Speed Skating of the season in Salt Lake City.
It was a historic result for Lamarche (Quebec City, Que.), who earned the first individual distance World Cup medal of her career with bronze in the 1000m. The reigning national champion in the distance crossed the line in 1:12.77, setting a new personal best and coming just shy of the Canadian record of 1:12.68. She was joined on the podium by Jutta Leerdam (1:12.35) and Femke Kok (1:12.43) of the Netherlands, who finished first and second, respectively.
Lamarche becomes the first Canadian woman to reach the 1000m podium on the World Cup circuit since Christine Nesbitt back in 2012-13. The 27-year-old finished 18th in the distance at last season’s World Championships and her top World Cup result before today was an eighth-place finish in Calgary last January.
“A first World Cup medal and a big personal best for me! After my race, I was really happy just looking at the time, and then seeing that I got third, I just couldn’t believe it. It’s amazing and I was not expecting this. I’m glad my best races are happening this season. It’s a really good start for me and I’m looking forward the rest of the weekend.”Béatrice Lamarche
It was an equally impressive result for Maltais (La Baie, Que.), who skated a new personal best time of 3:56.53 to bring home the silver medal in the 3000m. It marked the third career podium in the distance for 35-year-old veteran, having previously captured two bronze medals during the 2023-24 season.
The distance was won by Dutch skater Joy Beune (3:53.69), while Norway’s Ragne Wiklund (3:57.19). The Ottawa born duo of Isabelle Weidemann (3:57.84) and Ivanie Blondin (3:59.48) both cracked the top-10, finishing fifth and eighth, respectively.
“I’m very happy with my race and with the way that I prepared today. I had a really good summer of training, and I knew I was capable of good performances. The objective was to start the season off strong, but you never know where you stand. The girls on the international stage are really strong in the 3000m, so I just wanted to show up ready and have the best race possible today. From this moment forward, we build on this performance, hopefully improving each time and if that means a podium each time, then so be it. The objectives are clear, and the intentions are too. Today is a great start and I’m very happy.” Valérie Maltais
The ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Salt Lake City continues Saturday with the 500m-1 and 1500m, before concluding Sunday with the 500m-2, Mass Start and Team Pursuit. Racing will be live streamed on CBC Sports and Radio-Canada Sports digital platforms throughout the weekend.
Results
Women’s 3000m
- Valérie Maltais: 2nd
- Isabelle Weidemann: 5th
- Ivanie Blondin: 8th
- Laura Hall: 13th
- Abigail McCluskey: 25th (Division B)
Men’s 5000m
- Ted-Jan Bloemen: 7th
- Daniel Hall: 16th
- Graeme Fish: 21st (Division B)
Women’s 1000m
- Béatrice Lamarche: 3rd
- Alexa Scott: 2nd (Division B)
- Maddison Pearman: 9th (Division B)
- Brooklyn McDougall: 20th (Division B)
Men’s 1000m
- Laurent Dubreuil: 14th
- Connor Howe: 18th
- Anders Johnson: 11th (Division B)
- Yankun Zhao: 14th (Division B)
Media Contact
Alain Brouillette
Speed Skating Canada
communications@speedskating.ca
613-601-2630