Speed Skating Canada – Ted-Jan Bloemen finishes fifth in the 5000m

GANGNEUNG, South Korea, February 9, 2017 – Ivanie Blondin skated to a fourth-place finish in the women’s 3000m, 46 hundredths of a second away from a spot on the podium, Thursday, on the first day of the 2017 ISU World Single Distance Championships to be held until Sunday in Gangneung, South Korea.

In Thursday’s 3000m, Ivanie Blondin of Ottawa, ON, skated to a time of 4:02.45, coming 26 hundredths of a second away from her personal best (4:02.19). Ireen Wüst (3:59.05) of the Netherlands earned gold, followed by Martina Sáblíková (3:59.65) of the Czech Republic and Antoinette de Jong (4:01.99) of the Netherlands.

“I made one mistake and I think that’s what cost me a medal today,” said Blondin, who finished 17th in that distance at last year’s World Championships. “Still, I finished fourth and that’s the best result I’ve had in an individual event, apart from the mass start, at the World Single Distance Championships. I’m really happy with it. There were mistakes but I’d rather make them now than at the Olympic Games. It’s unfortunate for sure! I would have loved to bring home a medal this year in the 3000m, but at the same time there is a positive in the fact that I finished fourth.”

In the men’s 5000m, Ted-Jan Bloemen of Calgary, AB, was the top Canadian with a fifth-place finish. He skated the race in 6:14.73.

Sven Kramer (6:06.82) of the Netherlands won the race, ahead of his teammate Jorrit Bergsma (6:09.33) and New Zealand’s Peter Michael (6:11.67).

Last year, Bloemen also finished fifth in the men’s 5000m at the World Single Distance Championships.

“I’m not too happy about how I finished, but I went for it. I tried and I executed my plan,” said Bloemen, who had the fastest time at the halfway point. “My first half of the race appeared to be a little bit too much for me. I’m a little bit disappointed about that. Next time, I’ll go a little bit slower and finish a little bit faster and maybe end up on the podium! I’m in really good shape. I just need to control my speed a bit better.”

Two personal bests

The two other Canadian skaters in action on Thursday, Isabelle Weidemann of Ottawa, ON, and Jordan Belchos from Toronto, ON, both came up with new personal bests.

In the women’s 3000m, Weidemann finished ninth in 4:04.54. Her previous best stood at 4:05.10.

“I hadn’t come up with a personal best since last season in the fall,” pointed out Isabelle Weidemann. “This is also the first time I come up with a personal best outside of Calgary. The pace at training this week was pretty fast and I was expecting it to be kind of similar to what we do in Calgary.”

In the men’s 5000m, Jordan Belchos was eighth with a time of 6:16.92, therefore improving on his previous personal best of 6:17.16.

“I’ve been feeling a little sick the past few days but today, I just went out and skated, I focused on the process of what I had to do,” said Jordan Belchos. “The times just kept coming in and I was really into the race. It was amazing! The ice makers from Calgary that are doing the ice here have done an amazing job, it’s been unreal since we got here.”

On Friday, the 500m and team pursuit events are scheduled, both on the men’s and women’s side.

Broadcast on CBC

The performances of the Canadian team will be broadcast on CBC this Sunday, February 12th, from 1 pm to 2 pm. Saturday and Sunday races will also be webstreamed live on www.cbcsports.ca while all races will also be webstreamed live on the ISU Skating Channel at http://www.eurovisionsports.tv/isu/.

TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS

3000m W

4. Ivanie Blondin (4:02.45)

9. Isabelle Weidemann (4:04.54)

5000m M

5. Ted-Jan Bloemen (6:14.73)

8. Jordan Belchos (6:16.92)

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 

NOTE TO MEDIA:

Video interviews of Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann (English and French) are available for download at: http://bit.ly/Blondin_Weidemann

Video interview of Ted-Jan Bloemen (English) is available for download at: http://bit.ly/bloemen_09_02_2017