Speed Skating Canada – Competitions will be held this weekend, March 5-6, in Berlin, Germany

Calgary, February 29, 2016 – Ivanie Blondin of Ottawa and Ted-Jan Bloemen of Calgary, who won medals at the recent World Single Distance Championships, will be the two Canadian representatives at the ISU World Allround Championships to be held March 5-6 in Berlin, Germany.

Skaters will first take part in the 500m, 1500m, women’s 3000m and men’s 5000m events. Following these three individual events, the first eight per gender in the overall ranking will then take part in the women’s 5000m or men’s 10,000m events to get additional points to crown an overall champion.

The 500m, women’s 3000m and men’s 5000m will be held Saturday, while the 1500m, women’s 5000m and men’s 10,000m event are scheduled Sunday. There are no medals for each individual distance, only based on the final ranking at the end of the competition.

Ivanie Blondin, crowned Women’s Mass Start Champion at the 2016 World Single Distance Championships in Kolomna, Russia, February 14, took the sixth spot in the final ranking of the World Allround Championships last year in Calgary.

“My goal this year is to qualify for the 5000m event, my best long distance event except mass start and, consequently, to finish among the top eight”, said Ivanie Blondin who won a bronze medal in the 5000m at the World Cup held in Salt Lake City last November.

Ted-Jan Bloemen, silver medalist in the 10,000m at the World Single Distance Championships while being the world record holder in this distance since the World Cup in Salt Lake City, took the 16^th overall sport in 2015. In 2010, while representing the Netherlands, he finished in fourth place.

“I haven’t done a single 500m this year and only three 1500m races this season. So, it will be interesting to see where I will stand after the 500m, the first event of the competition. When I know where I stand after the 500m, I will be able to set a goal for the rest of the competition and, hopefully, I can make up some time in the long distance events”, analyzed Bloemen who won four medals in the 5000m and in the 10,000m events in international competitions this season.

Canada will aim to get back on the podium at the ISU World Allround Championships for the first time since 2012 where Christine Nesbitt finished third overall in the women’s side.

Members of the Canadian Team at the 2016 ISU World Allround Championships

WOMEN                                                              
-BLONDIN, Ivanie (Ottawa, ON)

MEN
-BLOEMEN, Ted-Jan (Calgary, AB)

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

About Speed Skating Canada

Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. 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.

SSC is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values including our premium sponsors Intact Insurance, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, City of Montreal, Calgary Olympic Oval and WinSport Canada.

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For information:

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

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