Olympic speed skater Valerie Maltais breaks the world record

CALGARY – 2010 Olympic speed skater Valerie Maltais broke the 1,000m world record on the first day of the Samsung ISU Short Track World Cup in Calgary. The reigning 2012 World Champion in the 3,000m, Maltais took off 1.396 seconds from the previous record held by China’s Zhou Yang. Maltais, a native of La Baie, Que., won her race with a time of one minute and 27.653 seconds.

“I knew that I was able to get a world record because I did it during the Canadian Fall World Cup selections in Calgary (in September),” said Maltais. “When started my race I just told my coach (Frédéric Blackburn) I was going to go fast during the race, but I didn’t say I was trying to break the record. The first round is the time to do it because after it’s more strategic to make sure to secure our position.”

“This is an amazing accomplishment by a talented young Canadian and an incredible way to open the 2012-2013 winter season,” said Marcel Aubut, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “ We congratulate Valerie on achieving this result and we very much look forward to continuing to support her and her teammates during the rest of the competition.”

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