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Canadian speed skater Valérie Maltais earns silver in World Cup finale
In a remarkable conclusion to the speed skating World Cup season, Canadian athlete Valérie Maltais secured a silver medal in the women’s mass start event in Inzell, Germany. This victory stands as her second medal of the weekend, following her achievement in the women’s 3000-meter race the previous day. At 35 years old, Maltais continues to demonstrate her prowess on the ice as she gears up for the upcoming Olympics.
Maltais’ performance in Inzell
In a challenging 16-lap mass start, Valérie Maltais finished with a time of 8:38.77, narrowly missing the gold medal won by Marijke Groenewoud of the Netherlands, who clocked in at 8:38.32. After the race, Maltais reflected on her performance, noting her satisfaction with the outcome and emphasizing that her focus extended beyond just the podium. “I’m kind of surprised with my weekend,” she remarked, acknowledging the impact of her recent rigorous training regimen.
Key insights from the weekend
Valérie Maltais secured a bronze medal in the women’s 3000-meter event on Saturday, finishing with a time of 3:59.92. This achievement underscores her versatility and adds to her impressive record of six World Cup podium finishes in individual distances, primarily in the 3000-meter. Earlier this season, she achieved her best result in Salt Lake City, where she placed second, demonstrating her consistent improvement and determination.
As she prepares for her fifth Olympic appearance, Maltais expresses optimism about her performance trajectory. “I have some good legs and seem to be recovering well, so I’m very happy,” she stated, reflecting her readiness for the forthcoming challenges. The upcoming Olympic Games will feature the women’s 3000-meter event on February 7, where Maltais aims to convert her recent success into Olympic glory.
Team efforts and individual endeavors
Canadian Ivanie Blondin narrowly missed the podium in the mass start, finishing just 0.01 seconds behind American Mia Manganello with a time of 8:39.29. Despite this close finish, Blondin celebrated success by teaming up with Beatrice Lamarche and Carolina Hiller-Donnelly to secure silver in the women’s team sprint, clocking in at 1:26.84.
Looking ahead to the Olympics
The Dutch team set a remarkable track record during the team sprint, finishing in 1:25.52 to claim gold, while the host Germans secured bronze with a time of 1:28.45. Following this event, Canada’s long track speed skating team will remain in Inzell for a training camp before heading off to Italy for the Olympics, which will take place from February 7 to 21 at the Milano Ice Park.
The competitive season is concluding, and the performances of Maltais and her teammates highlight the strength and resilience of the Canadian speed skating contingent. With the Olympics on the horizon, the athletes are ready to make an impact on the world stage, leveraging their recent successes as a springboard for future achievements.