The Canadian trio made up of Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais climbed to the top step of the podium on Tuesday morning in the team pursuit in long track speed skating.
Posted at 5:16
Updated at 6:25 a.m.
Canada won the first gold medal in its history in this category. It is also a first medal since the silver collected in Turin in 2006.
First in the World Cup standings in pursuit, the Canadians faced the Netherlands in the semi-finals. From the start, the Dutch struggled, having trouble staying together.
As usual, Maltais and Blondin were ahead of the field for the first three rounds and double medalist at these Games, Weidemann, led the last four rounds. They edged their competitors by 0.96 seconds at the finish line.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Valérie Maltais, Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin on the podium.
In the final, the Canadians faced their great Japanese rivals. These being the second in the world ranking, in addition to being the reigning Olympic champions and holders of the world record and the Olympic record.
Their dominance was noticeable from the start and for the vast majority of the race. Canada maintained a deficit of about a second until the halfway mark. When Isabelle Weidemann took over, she managed to close the gap. However, unexpectedly, with the Japanese in full control on the final lap and heading for Olympic gold, Nana Takagi lost her footing. The way was therefore clear for the Canadian trio, who went on to gold by also beating the Olympic record with a time of 2:53.44.
This is Canada’s second gold medal at these Games after Maxence Parrot’s in snowboard slopestyle.
As for her, Isabelle Weidemann completes the carousel. The 26-year-old Ottawan takes home the gold medal, having also won silver in the 5,000m and bronze in the 3,000m earlier at the Games.
Valérie Maltais, from La Baie, won her first medal since the Sochi Games in 2014.