Canada’s short track relays won gold at the Speed Skating World Cup on Sunday, capping a five-medal day for the country.
The Sherbrooke resident Jordan Pierre-Gilles went there with an incredible overtaking from the inside at the expense of South Korea, at the entrance of the last corner.
This led to victory for the group also including Steven Dubois, Maxime Laoun and Félix Roussel.
Pierre-Gilles looked like he wanted to overtake on the outside down the stretch, but he quickly went inside and surprised the South Korean, who was looking the other way.
The Canadian time of 6:56.201 put the team ahead of the South Koreans (6:56.453) and the Japanese (6:57.289).
Canada won its second straight gold medal in the relay, after Salt Lake City last month.
After winning silver twice to start the season, the women’s team (Courtney Sarault, Kim Boutin, Claudia Gagnon and Rikki Doak) finally got their hands on gold on Sunday.
It was his first victory in this discipline since December 2019 in Shanghai. The Canadians led from start to finish, holding off the Dutch, South Koreans and Chinese.
A collision between a South Korean and a Dutchwoman on the last lap allowed Sarault, of Moncton, to cruise to the finish line unmolested.
After a lengthy review of the video replay, the results were made official: the Canadians won in 4:10.479, ahead of the Dutch (4:16.038) and the South Koreans (4:22.605).
Canada also won three medals in single distances thanks to Sarault, Kim Boutin and Pascal Dion.
Boutin triumphed in the 500m for the second time this season, finding himself in the lead after a brilliant start to the race.
The 27-year-old clocked a time of 43.020 and was joined on the podium by Dutchman Suzanne Schulting (43.115) and American Kristen Santos-Griswold (43.254).
Dion took his second medal of the weekend, adding bronze in the 1,500m to silver won on Saturday in the 1,000m.
He overtook on the outside at the expense of his teammate William Dandjinou on the last corner to claim third place.
The Montreal skater finished the race in 2:20.545, behind South Koreans Kyung Hwan Hong (2:20.400) and Ji Won Park (2:20.340).
After gold in the 1,000 on Saturday, Sarault took silver in the 1,500 with a time of 2:26.752.
She was in the lead with two laps to go, but was passed by Belgian Hanne Desmet (2:26.692).
Germany’s Anna Seidel was third in 2:27.036.
The World Cup season will continue next weekend, again in Almaty.