Speed Skating Canada – Ivanie Blondin concludes the competition in 12th place in women’s overall standings

Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 10, 2018 – Denny Morrison from Fort St. John, B.C., is the top Canadian after the first two men’s events held at the 2018 ISU World Allround Championships which are underway in Amsterdam, Netherlands, until Sunday, as he is in 16th place overall.

On the women’s side, Ivanie Blondin from Ottawa took 17th place in the 1500m (2:05.32) to finish the competition in 12th place in overall standings.

The competition is being held outdoors, where it has rained, on an oval specially created for the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the ISU World Allround Championships.

On the first day of the men’s competition, Denny Morrison kicked off the event with a 15th-place finish in the 500m (37.97). He then skated to 21st place in the 5000m (6:59.34).

“Skating in the rain is a really miserable experience for a guy like me, who typically enjoys the fast ice and perfect conditions of the Calgary Oval,” said Denny Morrison. “But despite the weather, it was a pretty amazing atmosphere today. The cheering fans provided good motivation to go out in the rain and do my best.”

“Today’s was the second 500m race of my season, and it was equally as frustrating as the first,” added Morrison. “The 500m sprint really highlights my limitations at the start of the race and in terms of getting up to speed. Several 10,000m skaters beat me at the 100m mark in this sprint distance, which is unacceptable for a skater of my calibre in the shorter distances. This terrible 500m will severely hinder my chances of qualifying for the final race of this cumulative competition. Despite this however, as tomorrow’s 1500m race will be the last race of this unbelievable comeback season for me, I can’t wait to give these 25,000 Dutch super fans a good show.”

Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu from Sherbrooke, QC, is 17th in overall provisional standings after finishing in 11th place in the 500m (37.65) and 22nd in the 5000m (7:03.22).

“I came up with really great races today,” commented Gélinas-Beaulieu. “I was afraid the crowd would be a distraction for me, but I stayed focused. There is still the 1500m to race on Sunday and will attack it with the same mindset.”

For his part, Ted-Jan Bloemen of Calgary is 19th overall after coming up with the 19th spot in the 500m (38.81) and 15th place in the 5000m (6:53.08).

“It was a cool experience to race outdoors like this and to face the conditions that speed skating champions from back in the day had to fight against,” said Bloemen. “For me, the 5000m was a hard race,.I couldn’t use my usual technique in these conditions. But I’m not reading too much into these results, because I haven’t trained to overcome conditions like this. My goal was to skate fast at the Olympics.”

Dutch skaters Patrick Roest and Sven Kramer are for the time being first and third overall, respectively, while Norway’s Sverre Lunde Pedersen is second.

On the women’s side, the World Allround Championship title went to Japan’s Miho Takagi. Dutch skaters Ireen Wüst and Annouk van der Weijden were second and third overall, respectively.

On the last day of the men’s competition, Sunday, the 1500m event is scheduled and is to be followed by the 10,000m race in which only the top eight skaters in overall standings after the first three individual events will take part.

More details are available at Speed Skating Canada’s web site at www.speedskating.ca.

TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS

500m – M

11. Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (37.65)

15. Denny Morrison (37.97)

19. Ted-Jan Bloemen (38.81)

5000m – M

15. Ted-Jan Bloemen (6:53.08)

21. Denny Morrison (6:59.34)

22. Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (7:03.22)

1500m – W

17. Ivanie Blondin (2:05.32)

Final Ranking – W

12. Ivanie Blondin

About Speed Skating Canada

Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, SSC is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial associations. Speed Skating Canada is committed to Challenge and Inspire Canada to Thrive through the power of Speed Skating. SSC recognizes and values its outstanding volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise. It also celebrates the 63 Olympic medals won by Canadian athletes since 1932, as well as the coaches, officials and other dedicated individuals who helped them on their journey. www.speedskating.ca

Speed Skating Canada would like to thank its sponsors: 

Premium partner: Intact Insurance

Funding partners: Government of Canada (Sport Canada), Own The Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee

Official On-Ice High Performance Apparel: Li-Ning

Long Track Team Sponsor: KIA

Official Suppliers: Auclair, USANA

Official Technical Equipment Supplier: Nagano Skate

Sport Development Partners: Winsport Canada, Calgary’s Olympic Oval, University of Calgary, Institut national du sport du Québec, Government of Quebec, Canadian Sport Institute-Calgary, City of Montreal, Quebec City, Excellence sportive Québec-Lévis

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For information:

Kerry Dankers
Long Track Program and Communications Coordinator
Speed Skating Canada
Email: kdankers@speedskating.ca
Phone: 403-589-8960
Website: www.speedskating.ca   
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC  
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC 

Patrick Godbout

Communications & Media Relations Manager

Speed Skating Canada

Email: pgodbout@speedskating.ca

Phone: 514 213-9897

Website: www.speedskating.ca 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC