logo
Canada's (very tall) short track star could own the world championships

Canada's (very tall) short track star could own the world championships

CBC13-03-2025

Social Sharing
What a week to be a speed skating fan!
The world single-distances championships for long track skaters began today in Norway, where the Canadian trio of Brooklyn McDougall, Béatrice Lamarche and Ivanie Blondin took silver in the women's team sprint.
Canada finished sixth in the men's team sprint. At last year's world championships in Calgary, Canada won gold in both events en route to capturing a national-record 10 medals.
Blondin also placed eighth in the women's 3,000 metres today, right behind Canadians Valerie Maltais and Isabelle Weidemann, who were sixth and seventh. Canada's Ted-Jan Bloemen and Graeme Fish were seventh and 13th, respectively, in the men's 5,000m.
Meanwhile, the best short track skaters are in Beijing for their world championships, which start Friday with qualifying rounds for the medal races on Saturday and Sunday. Canadians will be in contention for plenty of hardware after racking up a total of 37 medals across the six World Tour stops this season, including 21 gold, to give Canada a comfortable victory over the Netherlands and Italy for the team championship.
WATCH | Canada claims women's team sprint silver:
Canadian women capture team sprint silver at speed skating worlds
56 minutes ago
Duration 3:08
The top Canadian to watch is Will Dandjinou, who's poised to be a big star at next year's Winter Olympics in Italy after missing the cut for the 2022 Games. Unusually tall for a short-tracker, the 23-year-old from Sherbrooke, Que., stands 6-foot-3 without skates, stretching far beyond the 5-foot-9 frame he figures is ideal for his sport. "There's no blueprint for us tall guys," Dandjinou said in a recent interview.
But he's clearly made his relative lankiness work for him. Dandjinou won gold in the 1,000m at last year's world championships, and this season he's been the most dominant short-tracker on the planet, winning a global-high eight individual races on the World Tour to capture his first men's overall championship along with the 1,000m and 1,500m titles. Dandjinou also helped Canada to the men's relay title and finished second in the 500m to his teammate Steven Dubois, giving Canada a clean sweep of the five men's World Tour crystal globes. Here's more on Dandjinou's rise from CBC Sports' Devin Heroux.
Dubois is another guy to watch this week in Beijing. He captured a complete set of Olympic medals — gold in the relay, silver in the 1,500 and bronze in the 1,000 — on this same ice surface at the 2022 Winter Games. The 27-year-old has yet to win a world title, but he earned a pair of individual medals at the 2023 worlds in the short-track hotbed of Seoul before missing the podium last year in the Netherlands.
On the women's side, Canada will look to upgrade its relay bronze from last year's worlds after tying Italy for top spot in the World Tour standings. The top Canadians in the women's overall chase were Danae Blais and Florence Brunelle, who placed seventh and eighth. Blais finished third in the 1,000m standings while Brunelle was third in the 500m.
Four-time Olympic individual medallist Kim Boutin, who won her first world title last year in the 500m, finished 13th in the overall chase this season. But she did help Canada place second in the mixed relay and should have a shot at the podium in that event this weekend.
The full list of Canadians at the short track worlds:
Men
William Dandjinou: 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m
Steven Dubois: 500m, 1,000m
Maxime Laoun: 1,500m
Jordan Pierre-Gilles: 500m
Félix Roussel: 1,000m, 1500m
Women
Danaé Blais: 1,000m, 1,500m
Kim Boutin: 500m
Florence Brunelle: 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m
Rikki Doak: 500m
Courtney Sarault: 1,000m, 1,500m
Each Canadian skater is also eligible to compete in relays.
How to watch:

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hall of Famers Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie to tee off at Rogers Charity Classic in Calgary
Hall of Famers Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie to tee off at Rogers Charity Classic in Calgary

Toronto Sun

time5 hours ago

  • Toronto Sun

Hall of Famers Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie to tee off at Rogers Charity Classic in Calgary

Published Jun 09, 2025 • 1 minute read Ernie Els plays his shot on the fourth hole during the third round of the American Family Insurance Championship. Getty Images CALGARY — World Golf Hall of Famers Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie have been added to the field of the Rogers Charity Classic, the only Canadian stop on the Champions Tour. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Els, a former world No. 1 and a four-time major winner, will tee off at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club for the second straight year. He finished in a tie for 10th in 2024. 'I look forward to playing again in Calgary at the Rogers Charity Classic,' Els said in a release. 'It is a tournament known for its deep roots in the community, and tremendous power to influence children's charities to make our communities a better place, which closely aligns with my own goals.' Scotland's Montgomerie was runner-up in his first appearance at the event in 2015 and finished sixth in 2016. 'I enjoy all of the PGA Tour Champions events, but Calgary is a special one,' Montgomerie said in a release. 'The course is absolutely perfect, and the tournament has had a tremendous impact on the community. It has been voted the No. 1 Tour event three times for a reason, and I have always said as long as I'm on this Tour, I'll be participating in the Rogers Charity Classic.' The captain of the Ryder Cup-winning European squad in 2010 will be looking for his eighth Champions Tour title and first since 2019. The Rogers Charity Classic runs Aug. 15-17. Toronto Blue Jays Olympics World Celebrity Columnists

‘She's not an honest or a reliable witness': Defence challenges complainant's credibility as closing arguments begin at Hockey Canada trial
‘She's not an honest or a reliable witness': Defence challenges complainant's credibility as closing arguments begin at Hockey Canada trial

Toronto Star

time6 hours ago

  • Toronto Star

‘She's not an honest or a reliable witness': Defence challenges complainant's credibility as closing arguments begin at Hockey Canada trial

LONDON, Ont. — The complainant in the high-profile Hockey Canada sexual assault trial was a 'fully consenting participant' who fabricated her allegations because she didn't want to admit she chose to be 'sexually adventurous' in a hotel room full of men she had just met, the defence argued Monday at the start of closing arguments. The central issue in the case is whether the woman, whose identity is covered by a standard publication ban, consented to sexual activity with Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote, all members of the 2018 Canadian world junior championship team, in a room at the Delta Armouries hotel in the early hours of June 19, 2018, when she was 20 years old.

Danielle Serdachny seeks better fit away from Ottawa: ‘We'll be really upset that we lost her'
Danielle Serdachny seeks better fit away from Ottawa: ‘We'll be really upset that we lost her'

Ottawa Citizen

time6 hours ago

  • Ottawa Citizen

Danielle Serdachny seeks better fit away from Ottawa: ‘We'll be really upset that we lost her'

Article content From the moment the PWHL announced its expansion rules during its championship series last month, one Ottawa player was destined to walk out the door. Article content Danielle Serdachny, fresh off signing a two-year deal with PWHL Seattle, didn't mince words in her first media appearance with her new team. Her rookie season in Ottawa fell short of expectations. Article content 'It was more on the disappointing end,' the 24-year-old forward said. 'I didn't have as much as an impact as I hoped I would.' Article content Article content Drafted second overall last summer after a dominant five-year career at Colgate University, Serdachny arrived in the nation's capital with big expectations. The Charge needed scoring and the Canadian national team forward looked poised to provide it with her elite speed and vision. Article content Article content But even with big-game experience playing with the Canadian national team at world championship, Serdachny struggled in her adjustment to the PWHL. Skating in all 30 regular-season games, she compiled only two goals and eight points, tied with fellow rookie Mannon McMahon for ninth on the Charge. Article content Originally playing in a top-six role with power-play time, Serdachny slowly tumbled down the lineup until she found herself buried on the fourth line for nearly all of Ottawa's eight-game playoff run. Article content Meanwhile, Sarah Fillier — the only player drafted ahead of her last year — shared the league scoring title and earned a forward of the year nomination. In contrast, Serdachny looked out of place in Ottawa's defence-first, grinding style of play. She showed glimpses of the blazing speed and puck control that they drafted her for, but more common were the turnovers and lack of finish. Article content Article content The arrival of Seattle and Vancouver to the league couldn't have come at a better time. For Serdachny, a change of scenery and a healthy dose of opportunity is absolutely part of the equation to unlocking what many feel is superstar potential. Article content 'This fresh start will be really, really good for me and a new opportunity to play under a new staff and with new teammates,' Serdachny said. 'Just hoping I can continue contribute in any way.' Article content Ottawa general manager Mike Hirshfeld has no doubts that she'll find her way — and make the Charge regret losing her even more than they already do now. Article content 'We were really optimistic about her future,' he said. 'We think she's got the potential to be one of the best players in this league, so it's disappointing when you lose that talent from your roster.' Article content With the ability to protect just three players from the expansion roster-building process, Hirshfeld and the Charge just couldn't take a chance protecting Serdachny over established difference-makers in Gwyneth Philips, Emily Clark and Ronja Savolainen.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store