Canadian long-track speedskating has made a remarkable mark on the international stage this season. The women’s team, led by Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann, along with Valerie Maltais of La Baie, Que., has not only secured their first team pursuit gold of the season but also ended the World Cup season ranked first. These victories have brought Canada’s long-track season total up to an impressive 15 medals across four events.

Canada’s Remarkable Turnaround

Despite starting slow, the third slowest in the field to be precise, the Canadian team managed to overcome their sluggish start to clinch their first team pursuit gold of 2025. They gradually chipped away at the lead, overtaking their opponents in the final 200 metres to secure the top spot. The team clocked 2 minutes and 57.20 seconds, just a sliver ahead of the United States (2:57.29), while Japan took the bronze with a time of 2:58.62.

This was Canada’s first World Cup victory in the women’s team pursuit since January 2024 in Salt Lake City. It was a significant turnaround for the team, Weidemann, Maltais and Blondin, who had won silver earlier this season in Salt Lake City and Calgary but had not reached the podium at all during the previous season’s campaign.

Canada Emerges as Top Speedskating Nation

Canada’s victory in the World Cup has placed them as the top-ranked team overall with 169 points, slightly ahead of Japan with 156 points. This solidifies their position as the defending Olympic champions, as they prepare for the upcoming long track season.

In the women’s mass start event, seasoned skater Blondin, 35, trailed Dutch rival Marijke Groenewoud for most of the race. However, she was unable to overtake her in the final sprint, finishing with a time of 8:24.47 to take bronze, narrowly behind Groenewoud (8:24.28). The race was won by Bente Kerkhoff of the Netherlands (8:23.19), who broke away after the final intermediate sprint lap and never looked back.

Looking Ahead

Following the World Cup, Canada’s top speedskaters will take a few weeks off before lacing up their skates again at the Long Track Canada Cup from Jan. 3-6, 2026, in Quebec City. This event will determine the remaining spots on the Olympic team.

The 2025-26 international speedskating season will conclude with one last World Cup stop in Inzell, from Jan. 23-25, before the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano-Cortina get underway in early February. With the recent victories under their belt, the Canadian team will undoubtedly be one to watch out for in the upcoming events.

Ethan Radcliffe

Ethan Radcliffe is a senior reporter and digital editor at The Toronto Insider, specializing in Canadian federal policy, GTA urban development, and national economic trends. With over a decade of experience in North American journalism, Ethan focuses on translating complex legislative and economic developments into clear, accessible reporting for Canadian readers. Ethan’s work emphasizes policy analysis, government accountability, and data-driven reporting, with a strong focus on how federal and provincial decisions impact communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. He has covered infrastructure planning, housing policy, fiscal strategy, and regulatory changes affecting Canadian households and businesses. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Ethan brings expertise in investigative reporting, long-form analysis, editorial standards, and digital publishing best practices. His reporting is guided by verifiable sources, public records, and transparent sourcing. In addition to reporting, Ethan has experience in newsroom editing, fact-checking workflows, SEO-informed journalism, and audience analytics, ensuring stories meet both editorial integrity standards and modern digital discoverability requirements. Ethan is committed to objective, fact-driven journalism and adheres to established ethical guidelines, prioritizing accuracy, clarity, and public trust in all reporting.

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