Speed Skating Canada – St-Gelais wins bronze in the 1000m and silver in the women’s relay

Shanghai, China, December 11, 2016 – Marianne St-Gelais earned her second bronze medal of the weekend by finishing in third place of the women’s 1000m in addition to helping the Canadian team collect silver in the women’s relay, Sunday, on the last day of the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating stage held in Shanghai, China.

On Saturday, St-Gelais also won bronze, this time in the first 500m event scheduled over the weekend. The skater from Saint-Félicien, QC, therefore reached her goal of earning two podium finishes in China. This weekend’s two bronze medals bring her tally for the season to five individual medals in three World Cup stages so far.

In Sunday’s 1000m, St-Gelais and Valérie Maltais of Saguenay, La Baie borough, QC, were respectively first and second with two laps to go until South Korean skaters Min Jeong Choi and Ji Yoo Kim overtook them on the outside. Choi and Kim ended up winning gold and silver, respectively, and St-Gelais the bronze. Maltais was fourth.

“I’m a little disappointed by what happened,” said St-Gelais. “I wanted to block the South Koreans at the end because I knew they were going to try to go by us on the outside. I didn’t have enough energy left, I think.”

This was the first time this season Maltais qualified for the A final of an individual event.

“I’m happy about making it to my first A final this season,” said Maltais. “I felt good out there today. In the final, I was aware of everything that was going on. I lacked a bit of top speed at the end; I wasn’t able to gain more speed. Still, I’ll take away some positives from this final.”

St-Gelais and Maltais, along with Kasandra Bradette and Kim Boutin, then allowed Canada to step onto the podium for the third time in Shanghai by coming up with the silver medal in the women’s relay. Jamie Macdonald and Marie-Ève Drolet also took part in the medal win, having skated in earlier rounds.

South Korea earned gold, while silver went to the Netherlands.

“We had a very good race,” said St-Gelais. “We applied everything we’ve talked about in the past. It gave us a great second-place finish and we’re very happy about that.”

A disappointing weekend for the men

The Canadian men’s team was unable to get onto the podium during the stage held in Shanghai, therefore coming up short of their goal of winning six medals.

Similarly to what happened on Saturday, no Canadian male skater was able to qualify for a spot in the A final of Sunday’s events.

The top results from the Canadian men came from Charle Cournoyer of Boucherville, QC, and Patrick Duffy of Oakville, ON, who both finished second in their respective B finals, in the 500m (2) and 1000m.

In the 500m (2) quarterfinals, Charles Hamelin of Saint-Julie, QC, fell while exiting out of a corner, ending up fifth and therefore being eliminated. For his part, Samuel Girard of Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC, was given a yellow card after there was contact with a South Korean skater, also coming out of a corner, which led to the latter’s fall.

“That was my first ever yellow card !,” pointed out Girard. “The weekend didn’t go like we would have wanted. It’s kind of the slap in the face that tells me that over a season, there are going to be some good ones and some that aren’t as good!”

The Canadian team will now head to Gangneung, South Korea, for the fourth stage of the ISU World Cup season to be held on the ice rink that will host the Olympics short track events at the 2018 Games.

TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS

500m (2) W

Jamie Macdonald: 4^th in the quarterfinals and eliminated (final ranking: 16)

Kim Boutin: penalty in the quarterfinals and eliminated (final ranking: 20)

Marie-Ève Drolet: 2^nd in the semifinals and eliminated (final ranking: 21)

500m (2) M

Charle Cournoyer: 2^nd in the B Final (final ranking: 6)

Pascal Dion: 4^th in the quarterfinals and eliminated (final ranking: 16)

François Hamelin: penalty in the quarterfinals and eliminated (final ranking: 21)

1000m W

Marianne St-Gelais: bronze medal (final ranking: 3)

Valérie Maltais: 4^th in the A Final (final ranking: 4)

Kasandra Bradette: 3^rd in the quarterfinals and eliminated (final ranking: 11)

1000m M

Patrick Duffy: 2^nd in the B Final (final ranking: 7)

Charles Hamelin: fell in the quarterfinals, took the 5^th position and eliminated (final ranking: 19)

Samuel Girard: yellow card in the quarterfinals and eliminated (final ranking: 53)

Relay W

Canada: silver medal

(Valérie Maltais, Marianne St-Gelais, Kasandra Bradette, Kim Boutin, Jamie Macdonald, Marie-Ève Drolet)

Relay M

Canada: 3rd in the heats and eliminated (final ranking: 9)
(Charle Cournoyer, Samuel Girard, Charles Hamelin, Patrick Duffy)

More information is available at Speed Skating Canada’s website: 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 and Samsung, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, 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 

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