Canadian squad won 37 medals and captured inaugural Team Crystal Globe as top nation on the ISU Short Track World Tour this season.
BEIJING, CHINA – Canada’s short track speed skating team will look to cap off one of their most successful seasons in recent memory with podium performances at this weekend’s ISU World Short Track Championships in Beijing.
The Ice Maples won 37 medals across six ISU Short Track World Tour events this season, including a record 21 gold. Their 8,731 points earned across individual distances and relays gave them a sizeable lead over the Dutch Lions (6,919 points) in the race to capture the inaugural Team Crystal Globe as the sport’s top nation.
Consistent performances throughout the grueling season helped Canadian skaters finish the World Tour campaign ranked within the top 3 in seven individual distances, as well as in all three relays.
William Dandjinou (Montreal, Que.) became the first Canadian to win the men’s Crystal Globe as the season’s top skater, earning 10 medals (8 gold, 2 silver) and finishing first overall in the 1500m and second in both the 500m and 1000m.
Steven Dubois (Lachenaie, Que.) clinched the 500m men’s title, while Jordan Pierre-Gilles (Sherbrooke, Que.) finished in a three-way tie for third in the distance. On the women’s side, Danaé Blais (Châteauguay, Que.) was third overall in the 1000m and Florence Brunelle (Trois-Rivières, Que.) was third in the 500m.
The women’s relay team medalled three times to finish the season ranked first overall, while a gold medal performance from the men’s relay during the final weekend of racing in Milan helped them narrowly edge out China atop the standings. Canada’s mixed relay squad also had a breakthrough season, earning four medals and ranking second overall.
Canada captured four medals at last season’s World Championships in Rotterdam, including career-first titles for Dandjinou in the men’s 1000m and for Kim Boutin (Sherbrooke, Que.) in the women’s 500m. Pierre-Gilles earned bronze in the men’s 500m, while the women’s relay squad also reached the third step of the podium.
The full list of Canadian skaters competing at the ISU World Short Track Championships in Beijing, along with the individual and team distances they have been selected to participate in, can be found below.
- Danaé Blais (Châteauguay, Que.): 1000m, 1500m, Relays
- Kim Boutin (Sherbrooke, Que.): 500m, Relays
- Florence Brunelle (Trois-Rivières, Que.): 500m, 1000m, 1500m, Relays
- Rikki Doak (Fredericton, N.B.): 500m, Relays
- Courtney Sarault (Moncton, N.B.): 1000m, 1500m, Relays
- William Dandjinou (Montreal, Que.): 500m, 1000m, 1500m, Relays
- Steven Dubois (Lachenaie, Que.): 500m, 1000m, Relays
- Maxime Laoun (Montreal, Que.): 1500m, Relays
- Jordan Pierre-Gilles (Sherbrooke, Que.): 500m, Relays
- Félix Roussel (Sherbrooke, Que.): 1000m, 1500m, Relays
The ISU World Short Track Championships take place from Friday to Sunday, with racing live streamed on CBC Sports digital platforms throughout the weekend.
CONTACT
Alain Brouillette
Speed Skating Canada
communications@speedskating.ca
613-601-2630