Short track speed skaters leave Shanghai with eight medals
Feature photo: Valerie Maltais after winning the World Cup 1000m final in Shanghai, China on December 12, 2015.
Three from Valérie Maltais, including two individual podium finishes, helped lead Speed Skating Canada’s short track team in Shanghai, China at an ISU World Cup this weekend, where they won a total of eight medals.
Three of the eight medals arrived on Saturday, where a restart was required in the women’s 1000-metre final. There, Maltais was among three skaters to fall when Qu Chunyu of China overtook the field. At the restart, Maltais beat Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands for gold, while Qu and Shim Suk Hee of South Korea were both penalized after another fall, leaving the bronze medal spot empty.
Valerie Maltais skates ahead of falling competitors at the World Cup 1000m final in Shanghai, China on December 12, 2015.
For Maltais, it was her second career individual World Cup gold, her first arriving in Montreal two years ago. It was also her second individual medal of the season, the other – bronze – coming in Toronto at the second stop of the 2015-16 calendar.
Maltais’ second individual medal arrived on Sunday, when she won silver in the 1500m. On the same day Marianne St-Gelais was second in the 500m. Later, Maltais, St-Gelais, Kasandra Bradette, and Audrey Phaneuf won silver in the relay behind South Korea and ahead of Netherlands. Kim Boutin and Namasthée Harris-Gauthier also received medals for skating in earlier rounds.
Charles Hamelin celebrates winning the men’s 1500m final at the World Cup in Shanghai, China on December 12, 2015.
Three-time Olympic champion Charles Hamelin seems to be back at his dominant form that fans have come to expect, winning a gold medal for the fourth consecutive World Cup this season, his first in the men’s 1500m distance on Saturday.
At every World Cup stop this season Hamelin has won at least one individual title, taking the1000m in Montreal before back-to-back 500m wins in Toronto and Nagoya.
Olympic medallist Charle Cournoyer finished second in the men’s 1000m on Saturday, while Samuel Girard was third in the 500m on Sunday. Finally on Sunday, the team of Hamelin, Cournoyer, Girard and Patrick Duffy took bronze in the men’s relay behind Hungary and Italy.
