(Calgary) Laurent Dubreuil captured gold in the 500m on Friday at the Long Track Speed Skating World Cup in Calgary.
Dubreuil crossed the distance in 33.778 seconds, setting in the process a personal best and a track record on the Albertan Olympic Oval. The previous track record belonged to Russian Pavel Kulizhnikov, in 34 seconds.
The skater from Lévis defeated the Chinese Tingyu Gao by nine hundredths of a second, and the Japanese Yuma Murakami by 0.12 seconds.
It was Dubreuil’s second World Cup 500m victory this season, after winning in Stavanger, Norway, in 34.573 seconds.
The Quebecer now has two gold, two silver and three bronze medals over the distance this season. He also sits at the top of the general classification over 500 m.
Earlier on Friday, Russia’s Olga Fatkulina won the women’s 500m in 36.726 seconds. Japanese Nao Kodaira and Russian Angelina Golikova completed the podium, in order.
Canadians Marsha Hrudey and Brooklyn McDougall followed in the 18e and 20e steps, in order.
The World Cup continues later this evening with the women’s 3000m and the men’s 5000m.