Speed Skating Canada – Ivanie Blondin qualifies for the Olympic Games in the 3000m

Salt Lake City, December 10, 2017 – Ted-Jan Bloemen set a new world record in the men’s 5000m, Sunday, on the last day of the ISU World Cup Long Track Speed Skating stage held in Salt Lake City, U.S.A., allowing him to win the gold medal, while Ivanie Blondin qualify in the 3000m at the 2018 Olympic Games following her fourth-place finish on Sunday.

In the men’s 5000m, Ted-Jan Bloemen from Calgary, AB, skated to a time of 6:01.86 to beat the previous world record of 6:03.32 that had been set by Dutch skater Sven Kramer on November 17, 2007.

Bloemen finished ahead of Germany skaters Patrick Beckert (6:07.02) and Mortiz Geisreiter (6:07.31), respectively, while also improving on his personal best by over six seconds.

“That was amazing!,” said Ted-Jan Bloemen, who also holds the world record in the 10,000m distance. “I saw the other skaters do times of 6:07 before me, so I knew the ice was quite a bit faster than last weekend, and that maybe it was possible to beat the world record. But this fast? I didn’t expect it.”

Blondin also qualifies for the Olympic Games in the 3000m

In the women’s 3000m, Ivanie Blondin d’Ottawa, ON, finished in fourth place in Sunday’s race, and also ended up fourth in overall standings following the four Fall World Cups.

The bronze medal she collected in this distance in Heerenveen earlier this season, in addition to her finishing among the top 5 overall after the four Fall World Cups and Canada earning three spots in the women’s 3000m at the upcoming Olympics, allowed Ivanie Blondin to qualify individually in this event for PyeongChang 2018.

On Saturday, Blondin also earned her ticket to the Games in the mass start.

Blondin skated to a time of 3:59.47 on Sunday. She therefore improved on her personal best, which previously stood at 4:02.19.

Russia’s Natalie Voronina (3 :57.70) won gold, followed by Czech skater Martina Sáblíková (3:57.84) and Germany’s Claudia Pechstein (3:58.69).

“Today, even if I’m not on the podium with a fourth-place finish, considering how I was feeling all week, I think it’s a good sign for the Olympics that I was able to secure my prequalification in another distance,” said Blondin. “Also, it shows that I’m right there and that I could potentially bring home medals in multiple distances – in the 3000m, 5000m, mass start and team pursuit. That’s exactly what I wanted to do today, but I wasn’t sure if I was able to do it. I went into the race and just focused on what I needed to do and on having the right mindset, in order to have a good performance and bring out my compete level.”

Isabelle Weidemann (4:02.36) from Ottawa was 7th while Brianne Tutt (4:04.15) of Airdrie, AB, was 10th.

Qualification spots for countries and athletes are unofficial until the ISU confirms the spots for each country for the 2018 Olympic Games by the end of 2017 and Speed Skating Canada selects its team and submits its nomination to the Canadian Olympic Committee, followed by the official announcement, after the 2018 Long Track Team Selections.

Personal bests in the 1000m

In the 1000m event, Vincent De Haître of Cumberland, ON, finished in fifth place with a time of 1:07.12, while Alexandre St-Jean of Quebec City ended up 11th and set a new personal best of 1:07.65, to improve on his previous best by 19 hundredths of a second.

On the women’s side, Kaylin Irvine from Calgary, AB, skated to 12th place and improved on her personal best by 83 hundredths of a second. Her PB now stands at 1:14.43.

Heather McLean of Winnipeg, MB, won the women’s 1000m in the B group, while Marsha Hudey of White City, SK, came third, with a new personal best of 1:15.64.

In the men’s 1000m B group, David La Rue skated to a time of 1:08.66, good for 8th place and a new personal best. His previous mark was 1:08.74.

For PyeongChang 2018, Canada finished the Fall World Cup season by clinching three spots in the women’s 1000m as well as in the men’s 1000m.

The remaining individual spots will be assigned at the 2018 Long Track Team Selections, set to take place January 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 at Calgary’s Olympic Oval.

TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS

5000m – M

GOLD: Ted-Jan Bloemen (6:01.86)

3000m – W

4. Ivanie Blondin (3:59.47)

7. Isabelle Weidemann (4:02.36)

10. Brianne Tutt (4:04.15)

1000m – M

5. Vincent De Haître (1:07.12)

11. Alexandre St-Jean (1:07.65)

1000m – W

12. Kaylin Irvine (1:14.43)

1000m (B) – W

1. Heather McLean (1:15.13)

3. Marsha Hudey (1:15.64)

13. Brianne Tutt (DQ)

1000m (B) – M

6. Denny Morrison (1:08.48)

8. David La Rue (1:08.66)

5000m (B) – M
8. Ben Donnelly (6:17.25)

19. Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (6:25.72)

3000m (B) – W

12. Josie Morrison (4:05.88)

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