Quebecer Laurent Dubreuil finished third in the second 500-meter event held as part of the World Cup long track speed skating stage in Calgary.
After winning gold on Friday, dropping the Canadian record in the process, Dubreuil clocked 34.06 seconds on Sunday.
“I’m glad I bounced back with another good race after what was probably my best race ever on Friday,” said Dubreuil, tired but smiling.
Russia’s Viktor Mushtakov finished first in 33.90, nine hundredths better than Japan’s Yuma Murakami.
Alex Boisvert-Lacroix (34.20) finished seventh while Gilmore Junio (34.52) finished in 16th position.
In the general classification of the discipline, Dubreuil remains in first place with a total of 420 points. Three Japanese come behind, including Wataru Morishige, second with 351 points.
“The standings don’t mean anything, we are training for the real season (the Olympic Games) which is two months away to the day,” Dubreuil explained. I’ll have to be good at this point. “
Dubreuil has been on the podium in each of the eight 500-meter races since the start of the 2021 World Cup season. His record includes two gold, one silver and five bronze.
“I am proud to have made eight podiums in eight races, but in the end, we will have to be ready for (the Olympic Games in) Beijing,” recalled the native of Lévis.
Moreover, Dubreuil placed eighth in the 1000-meter final, after stopping the clock at one minute 07.331 seconds.
This performance earned him a place in the Canadian delegation over 1000 meters at the Beijing Olympics.
“My performance in the 1000m allows me not to go to the Canadian Olympic qualification and that is precious,” added Dubreuil. I will be able to train and not experience the stress of competition for two months, in order to arrive fresh and fit for the Games. “
His compatriot Connor Howe (1: 07.317) was the best of the four Canadians entering the competition with a sixth place finish.
Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (1: 07.696) and Vincent de Haître (1: 08.212) finished 12th and 17th.
Later Sunday, Ivanie Blondin secured a second medal for Canada by finishing second in the mass start. Blondin completed the 16 laps in 8: 29.71, two tenths of a second behind the Italian Francesca Lollobrigida. Quebecer Valérie Maltais (8: 38.69) finished in seventh place.
However, Canada was excluded from the podium in the women’s 1,500-meter final, Blondin was the top Canadian with an eighth place, clocking 1: 53.46.
Isabelle Weidemann (1: 54.33) and Maddison Pearman (1: 55.97) took 11th and 17th places, respectively.
Brittany Bowe of America won the race in 1: 52.05.
Canada closed the competition by earning a bronze medal in the men’s team pursuit.
Howe, Ted-Jan Bloemen and Jordan Belchos clocked a time of 3: 38.604, three seconds behind the gold medal-winning United States skaters.