Like many of his Canadian teammates, Laurent Dubreuil will be looking for podiums in the World Cup long track speed skating competition this weekend in Calgary.
The 29-year-old from Lévis has collected six consecutive medals in the 500-meter event on the World Cup circuit this season (one gold, two silver and three bronze). However, he would like nothing more than to extend this streak in a favorable environment, that of the Olympic Oval.
“I think the real advantage comes from knowing the ice,” said Dubreuil, who sits first in the 500-meter overall standings, just ahead of Japan’s Tatsuya Shinhama and Wataru Morishige.
“Being comfortable in the arena gives us an advantage, that’s for sure. For us, there is nothing new here. We’ve had success here in the past, and I think we have the potential to do it again this time around. “
Dubreuil will have two chances to stand on the podium in the 500 meters, with races on Friday and Sunday. He will also take part in the 1,500-meter race on Sunday.
After his third place last Sunday in Salt Lake City with a personal best 34.05 seconds, he hopes to go even faster, he who would like to erase the Canadian mark of 34.03, held by Jeremy Wotherspoon.
“It’s a legendary time in speed skating,” said Dubreuil, who admits that his goal is to erase this record.
“That this record has continued to hold up for 14 years – because I’m not sure I can beat it right now – shows you how good Jeremy was. “
Bloemen and Blondin
Calgary skater Ted-Jan Bloemen will also have the opportunity to get his hands on more than one medal over the weekend.
Friday afternoon, he will compete in the 5,000 meters and Sunday, he will be one of Canada’s flagship team pursuit on Sunday.
“I had a somewhat difficult competition last weekend where I could not find my energy after a short period with a lot of stress before starting this World Cup”, admitted Bloemen, second in the standings. overall in the 5000 meters in the World Cup behind Sweden’s Nils van der Poel.
“I got over that now and I’m getting my energy back. I hope I’ll be myself again or at least a lot better than last week. I really want to give my best race at home. “
Like Dubreuil and Bloemen, Ivanie Blondin, an athlete from Ottawa, will have the opportunity to win more than one medal.
Along with Valérie Maltais, from Saguenay, and Isabelle Weidemann, also from Ottawa, Blondin will start her weekend by participating in the 3,000-meter race on Friday afternoon.
The next afternoon, Maltais, Weidemann and Blondin will try to combine their efforts to earn a fourth gold medal in as many competitions in the team pursuit.
“The level of the team has gone up a notch over the past two years,” said Blondin, who helped his team set a Canadian record of two minutes 52.41 seconds in Salt Lake City on his way to another gold medal.
“We work very well as a team and we race very well together. It’s going really well for us and I’m looking forward to this event. “