Canadian speed skater Ivanie Blondin secured a memorable victory in the World Cup mass start event in Calgary, marking her final win on home ice. The 35-year-old athlete, set to retire after this season, thrilled the crowd at Calgary’s Olympic Oval as she surged ahead in the frantic final stretch of the long-track race.
Expressing her emotions, Blondin shared, “The crowd was incredible. It’s likely my last World Cup here at home, so it’s a bit emotional, though it hasn’t sunk in yet. Maybe after a beer, I’ll get a bit more emotional.” Having trained at the Oval for nearly half of her life, the Olympic mass start silver medalist has a strong connection to the venue, having competed in numerous World Cups and world championships there.
Blondin’s victory added to her impressive tally of 88 World Cup medals, which includes 11 gold medals in mass start events throughout her career. The mass start race, featuring 16 laps with strategic sprints and intense body contact reminiscent of short track, tested Blondin’s skills and experience.
Teammate Valérie Maltais, who finished fourth in the race, also has a short track background like Blondin. The Dutch skater Marijke Groenewoud clinched the second spot, while American Mia Manganello narrowly edged out Maltais for the third position.
Following their success in the mass start event, Blondin, Isabelle Weidemann, and Maltais claimed silver in the women’s team pursuit, finishing behind the Netherlands. The Canadian trio, reigning Olympic champions, continued their strong performance after securing silver in Salt Lake City the previous week.
Weidemann expressed satisfaction with their consistency, stating, “Last weekend, we were uncertain about our capabilities, but this weekend, it feels great to maintain that consistency.” The Canadian team amassed a total of four medals in the Calgary World Cup, setting a positive tone ahead of the upcoming World Cups in Europe.
In the men’s events, American skater Jordan Stolz dominated the 500m race, securing his third victory in Calgary. Meanwhile, the Dutch team demonstrated their prowess in the women’s 500m, with Femke Kok claiming gold and Jutta Leerdam finishing closely behind in second place.
The event showcased thrilling performances and competitive spirit, setting the stage for further excitement as the Canadian team prepares to compete in upcoming World Cups in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, and Hamar, Norway in December.