Speed Skating Canada – Alex Boisvert-Lacroix 6th in 500m overall World Cup ClassificationMinsk, Belarus, March 18, 2018 – Ivanie Blondin captured silver in the final mass start of the season  Sunday, bolstering her overall World Cup ranking to bronze in that event on the last day of the 2018 ISU World Cup Final in Minsk, Belarus.

Ivanie Blondin, from Ottawa, raced to a silver medal in Sunday’s mass start and with that placing, she jumped from sixth to third in overall World Cup standings in that event with 257 points, making this her fifth top-3 overall finish in the past six years in this event. She finished behind Francesca Lollobrigida of Italy (324) and Ayano Sato of Japan (290).

Sunday, Sato won the event in a time of 9:23.87, followed by Blondin (9:23.92) and Lollobrigida (9:24.52).

“It’s a bittersweet ending to the season. I’m really happy about my performances this weekend and today, especially finishing second and third in overall World Cup for mass start,” said Blondin, who also came up with silver in overall standings of the 3000m/5000m category on Saturday. “But also makes it a little hard to swallow ending the season without any Olympic medals. I definitely have some unfinished business, which will fuel my fire for the next four years, that’s for sure.”

In the second and final men’s 500m event this weekend, Alex Boisvert-Lacroix of Sherbrooke, QC, finished ninth in a time of 35.19 on Sunday. He placed sixth overall in the World Cup ranking in the distance with 496 points, one spot lower than his best result of fifth overall in 2016. Sunday’s podium was a Dutch sweep again, this time with Jan Smeekens in first (34.83), Dai Dai Ntab second (34.94) and Hein Otterspeer in third position (34.97).

The overall World Cup title was taken by Norway’s Havard Holmefjord Lorentzen (716), second was Otterspeer (568) and third was Ronald Mulder (556) of the Netherlands.

“It was a great 300 meters but I had a bad entry in my last corner where I lost a lot of speed. When you make a mistake in the 500m, there’s not much you can do after that. I’m happy I came to Minsk to really finish the season all the way through,” said Boisvert-Lacroix.

“This season, I reached my life goal which was to take part in the Olympics. I’m pretty pumped about that! I’m able to say it’s by best season ever with two gold medals back to back as well. Overall, a great season and I’m happy with all that.”

 

Bronze overall for Canada in team sprint

In men’s team sprint, the Canadian team placed third in the overall World Cup ranking with 300 points. Norway took the overall title (370) and Russia came in second (314).

On Saturday, Ted-Jan Bloemen from Calgary was crowned 2017-2018 World Cup Champion in the 5000m/10,000m category.

TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS

500m – M

9. Alex Boisvert-Lacroix (35.19)

Mass Start – W

2. Ivanie Blondin (4:11.77)

FINAL OVERALL RANKINGS

500m – M

6. Alex Boisvert-Lacroix

Mass Start – W

3. Ivanie Blondin

Team Sprint – M

3. Canada

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 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