Following their victory in the team pursuit event at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, speed skaters Ivanie Blondin, Valérie Maltais, and Isabelle Weidemann have become the target for their competitors worldwide.
As the next Winter Games approach, the Canadian trio is aware that complacency is not an option as they aim to defend their Olympic title.
Blondin, Maltais, and Weidemann are currently in Salt Lake City for the first World Cup event of the long track season, with a particular focus on team pursuit training. The trio arrived in Utah early to conduct a specialized camp aimed at refining their strategy for future competitions.
This training camp marks a significant shift as they concentrate solely on the discipline in which they clinched Olympic gold almost four years ago, acknowledging the evolving tactics of their rivals.
While the trio had previously skated together in preparation for the 2025-26 season, this camp stands out as a dedicated effort towards enhancing their performance in the team pursuit. The athletes are working on a revised strategy with the aim of reclaiming their position at the top of the podium.
CBC Analyst Kristina Groves breaks down the team pursuit in long track speed skating, which sees three athletes competing together to push each other to the fastest time.
In the women’s team pursuit, two teams of three skaters each start simultaneously on opposite sides of the 400-metre oval, completing a total of six laps. The skaters take turns leading the team, utilizing aerodynamic advantages, and the race concludes when all three members cross the finish line.
The trio’s initial team pursuit experience at the 2019 world championships resulted in an unexpected fourth-place finish, prompting them to reevaluate their race tactics and strategies.
Recalling their debut, Maltais mentioned the challenges they faced: “It was my first team pursuit ever, and we finished fourth. And we were doing one gazillion, million exchanges. I don’t even remember exactly what we did. Like I couldn’t do much…”
Weidemann added humorously, “I don’t think any of us could do much.”
Maltais highlighted the evolution of their strategy over time: “Our strategy evolved and changed, and even this year, it’s going to be a new strategy.”