Team Canada shines in Seoul with five medals, including three gold – Team Canada

Chung Sung-Jun/ISU

Team Canada’s short track speed skaters dominated the first day of competition at the ISU World Cup in Seoul, South Korea, winning five medals, including three gold.

William Dandjinou, leader of the individual men’s ranking, took first place in the men’s 1500m event with a time of 2:14.313. He beat Korean Jiwon Park and Dutchman Jens van ‘t Wout. Steven Dubois initially finished the race in second position, but the Quebecer was penalized for contact with Park. Félix Roussel was also given a penalty for contact with an opponent.

Dubois, however, recovered at his favorite distance, winning gold in the 500m. His time of 41.681 seconds placed him just ahead of fellow Canadian Jordan Pierre-Gilles, who finished the race in 41.759 seconds. Latvian Roberts Kruzbergs completed the podium.

For both Dandjinou and Dubois, it was an improvement over the silver medals won over the same distances last week at the World Cup event in Beijing, China.

READ: Roussel wins gold as Canada captures three medals on the final day of short track speed skating racing in Beijing.

On the women’s side, Danaé Blais won the silver medal in the 1000m. Remember that Blais won his first individual title in the 1000m last week in Beijing. This time, she had to admit defeat to the crowd favorite, Korean Gilli Kim, who finished the race in 1:30.884. Blais clocked 1:31.010, ahead of another Korean, Minjeong Choi.

Finally, the same victorious quartet last week in Beijing once again collected the gold medal in the 3000m relay. The team composed of Danaé Blais, Kim Boutin, Florence Brunelle and Courtney Sarault finished on the top step of the podium with a time of 4:11.634. They edged out the Italians in second place, while the Korean team won the bronze medal. This is a third consecutive victory over this distance for Team Canada.

The action continues on Sunday with the women’s 500m and 1000m races, the men’s 1000m and 5000m relay, as well as the mixed team relay.

The next stage of the ISU Short Track Speed ​​Skating World Cup will take place from February 7 to 9 in Tilburg, Netherlands.