Canadian skaters excelled at the World Short Track Speed Skating Circuit in Montreal, claiming gold in the men’s relay final. Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles, William Dandjinou, and Félix Roussel took the lead with 19 laps left, solidifying their victory. Dandjinou expressed joy over the win, while the team also secured a bronze in the mixed relay. Florence Brunelle narrowly missed an individual medal in the 500 m final. The circuit will continue in Montreal next week.
Canadian supporters electrified the atmosphere during the concluding 20 laps of the men’s relay final, the hallmark event on Sunday at the first leg of the World Short Track Speed Skating Circuit held at the Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal.
The Canadian team, featuring Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles, William Dandjinou, and Félix Roussel, took command with 19 laps remaining when Pierre-Gilles passed the baton to Dandjinou, who swiftly surged ahead of the Italian team in first place.
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From that moment on, the Canadian contingent maintained their lead, gradually extending their advantage over the nearest competitors to clinch the gold medal amidst a jubilant crowd.
“We were overjoyed. It’s an amazing feeling and it’s the perfect finish to our weekend,” said William Dandjinou.
“Our goal was to create a gap to conserve our energy for the final relays, and I believe it worked exceptionally well for us,” Steven Dubois added.
The silver and bronze medals went to teams from China and the Netherlands, respectively.
This marked a second medal for both Dubois and Roussel within the same day, having previously secured a third-place finish in the mixed relay alongside Florence Brunelle and Kim Boutin.
During the mixed relay final, Brunelle stumbled in the early laps, inadvertently bringing down an American skater. Boutin promptly took over, enabling Canada to finish the race and earn a bronze medal.
“Facing off against a male competitor has always been challenging. I felt confident during the mixed relay, though I’ve struggled previously. However, today went well. My role was to reach out to Florence after her fall, which helped us surpass the Americans,” Kim Boutin remarked.
The Dutch team won gold in the mixed relay, with South Korea securing silver. Jordan Pierre-Gilles, William Dandjinou, and Danaé Blais also earned medals as participants in the qualifiers for this event.
No individual medal but valuable experience gained
Florence Brunelle aimed for her first individual senior medal on Sunday, coming close in the 500 m final. The Trifluvian initially grabbed third place but was edged out by Dutch competitor Michelle Velzeboer in the final lap.
After a brief attempt to reclaim her position by making an inside pass, Brunelle’s skate blade collided with Velzeboer’s, leading to both skaters tumbling to the ground.
“I focus on the process. Falls are part of short track. It was a fast-paced race, and I feel like I’ve become a bit hesitant, which disrupts my flow. While I’m disappointed with my final laps, I maintain a positive outlook and strive to apply smarter strategies,” Brunelle commented.
Canadian head coach Marc Gagnon praised Brunelle’s resilience throughout the weekend.
“Florence excels at self-analysis. She swiftly identifies what she needs to improve upon. I’m thrilled with her growth; we recognized her potential a year or two ago, but her progress this weekend was monumental. Working with her is truly rewarding,” the coach shared.
Similarly, Kim Boutin secured second place in the B final for the 500 m. The reigning world champion faced challenges in the quarter-finals, which had to be restarted twice due to tumbles in the first turn.
Qi Miao made her debut in the individual finals during the World Circuit. The 19-year-old skater progressed to the final of the 1500 m after tangling with Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands during the semi-finals.
Miao initially stayed at the back during the opening laps of the final but took a chance at the front, leading for a few laps before finishing in eighth place overall.
Meanwhile, Danaé Blais was eliminated in the 1500 m semi-finals, and Kim Boutin chose to forgo the B final to conserve her energy for the 500 m races.
Félix Roussel, another key member of the Canadian squad, finished sixth in the 1000 m final, while Jordan Pierre-Gilles placed fourth in the B final.
William Dandjinou, having won gold in the previous day’s 500 m and 1500 m, faced disappointment as a fall during the semi-finals prevented him from competing in the final.
Next week, the World Circuit will continue in Montreal for its