Speed Skating Canada – Montreal, August 19, 2017 – Following a fall during the semifinal round of the second 500m of the competition held last Wednesday, Valérie Maltais, from Saguenay, QC, had to withdraw from the 2018 Short Track Team Selections held until Sunday, August 20 at Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal.

Maltais has been sidelined after experiencing moderate symptoms due to a concussion. She will miss the rest of the races scheduled at the competition.

To be able to take part in the 2018 Olympic Games, Valérie Maltais will ask for a bye, as stated in Speed Skating Canada’s 2018 Short Track Olympic Policies and Procedures. If a bye request is granted to another skater, Valérie Maltais could then be picked as a discretionary choice. The full team will be announced on August 30.

The first three skaters in the women’s overall standings at the end of the 2018 Short Track Team Selections, as determined by the amount of points earned in the two best results out of three, in the two best distances out of three – therefore taking into account results from four races out of a total of nine – will be chosen on the team for the PyeongChang Games. The fourth spot available will be awarded to a female skater that will have requested a bye, while the fifth spot will be a discretionary choice.

Valérie Maltais will meet with the media on Saturday, August 19 at 1 p.m., before the start of racing.

“I would have preferred to continue racing at these Selections, especially considering that I earned good results in the 1000m and the 1500m last weekend, which gave me confidence going into the other races,” said Valérie Maltais. “However, after my fall and after consulting with the medical team, it became clear that it would be best for me to withdraw from the competition. It’s quite disappointing to come to this conclusion at this stage of the Olympic qualifying process, but I must think about my mid-term and long-term future.”

“My greatest wish is to be with the girls at the PyeongChang Games and I am confident I will be able to help the team do well. I must now put my trust in the internal selection process involving the bye requests and the discretionary choice.”

About Speed Skating Canada

“To Challenge and Inspire Canada to Thrive through the power of Speed Skating”

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.

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, Conseil du sport de haut niveau de Québec

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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

Dominique Ladouceur

Agent of Valérie Maltais

Cell.: 514 576-2379

Email: dominique@af-2.com