Quebec, Canada

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 #SpeedSkating

Valérie Maltais (CAN) won her career first individual international title, seizing gold in the Women’s 3000m at the ISU Four Continents Championships in Quebec on Friday. Min Sun Kim (KOR) started the tournament with her second title in the 500m, and China concluded the action-packed first day at the Centre de Glaces with gold in the Women’s Team Sprint.

Kim takes second Four Continents gold

After already having won the first two 500m races in this season’s World Cup, Min Sun Kim struck again in the shortest distance. With a time of 38.14s, the indomitable Korean crushed the track record set by Carolina Hiller (CAN) at the Canadian trials on 13 October by 0.37s.

Min Sum Kim (KOR)

Min Sun Kim (KOR) added Four Continents 500m gold to her two World Cup wins at the distance this season. @ ISU

The more silverware she wins – she won the shortest distance at the inaugural Four Continents Championships in Milwaukee, USA, in 2020 - the better Kim appreciates the medals

“This [second] Four Continents title is more meaningful to me,” she said.

Konami Soga (JPN) and Yukino Yoshida (JPN) made sure that all three 500m medals went to Asia, capturing silver and bronze respectively.

Soga had entered the competition without much pressure.

“My body was feeling a little bit heavy, because trained more [last week], because this competition is not the main goal. That’s the World Cup next week,” she explained, adding that she enjoyed the newly built Centre de Glaces a lot.

Konami Soga JPN

Silver medalist Konami Soga (JPN) enjoyed her first experience of the soft ice at Quebec's Centre de Glaces. @ ISU

“I like soft ice and this is soft ice, and it’s really nice that the audience is so close to the rink.”

“It was the first time for me on this ice, so I didn't know how fast I could skate. My goal was the podium, so a silver medal is very nice for me.”

Career first for confident Maltais

Valérie Maltais has won countless World Cup races and was crowned Olympic Champion in the Team Sprint last February, but the 32-year-old former short track racer never won an individual medal in long track. Heading into Friday’s 3000m race, she knew this was her chance and she didn’t waste it.

Loudly cheered on by hundreds of Quebecois schoolkids in the stands, Maltais stopped the clock at 4 minutes and 3.15s, to leave pair-mate and compatriot Béatrice Lamarche (CAN) 2.36s behind.

“One thing that was really different than what I used to do, at least individually, is that I knew that I could win today,” said Maltais.

“I was able to race like that in short track, but I never was able to replicate that in long track, except for the team pursuit. I've talked about it with my coaches and with my mental performance coach.

“When I'm in Team Pursuit, I know I can win and that brings something into me. Arriving at the start and just knowing, inside of you that you can do it, that brings confidence and you just skate more relaxed. I need to learn from that.”

Valerie Maltais

Former short track skater Valérie Maltais (CAN) won her first individual long track medal, taking gold in the 3000m. @ ISU

Maltais explained that speed skating is a complex sport in which you have to relax and push at the same time, a combination she got right today.

“What I did today, I was more active in the corner. I discussed it with my coach. We always say relax in a sort of a way, but I'm never able to relax. Today. I feel that I was able to apply that.”

While Maltais is not from Quebec City but from La Baie, which is about two hours to the north, she enjoyed skating in her home province.

“This is more home than Calgary. A lot of my family is here. And we could feel the ambiance, it was amazing going onto the home track. The stands are a little bit higher, we could feel that sound on top of us.”

Special bronze for local Lamarche

With a time of 4:10.66 Lamarche took bronze, with Nadezhda Morozova (KAZ) winning silver in 4:05.51. Contrary to Maltais, Lamarche was born and raised in Quebec City, and before the Gaétan Boucher Oval got a roof this summer, she used to skate there outdoors. Winning her first individual medal in the senior ranks there, was as special to her as it was unexpected.

Beatrice Lamarche CAN

Béatrice Lamarche (CAN) took 3000m bronze on the home-town track she used to skate on when younger. @ ISU

“I've been skating here for my whole life. I remember seeing all the older skaters when I was young and we were skating here outside. And now I am one of the older skaters [that the kids look up to].

“The crowd was very loud, which was perfect. I even had a hard time hearing my coaches on the back stretch.

“This morning I wasn't expecting [to be on the podium] at all. It just shows that I can aim high, and the 3000m is not even my best distance, that’s the 1500m.”

China wins Team Sprint

Zhang Lina, Pei Chong and Binyu Yang concluded Friday’s women’s competition with gold in the Team Sprint. The Chinese trio set a time of 1 minute and 30.59s to leave the USA and Canada behind.

Sarah Warren, Chrysta Rands and Anna Quinn (USA) set 1:31.38 to take silver, while Rose Laliberte-Roy, Alison Desmarais and Abigail McCluskey (CAN) took bronze in 1:31.61.

China Women's team sprint

Team China powered to victory over USA and Canada by almost a second in the Team Sprint. @ ISU

Schedule 

Friday December 2nd, 2022:       500m (Men and Women), 3000m (Women), 5000m (Men), Team Sprint (Men and Women)

Saturday December 3rd, 2022:  1500m (Men and Women), Mass Start (Men and Women)

Sunday December 4th, 2022:     1000m (Men and Women), Team Pursuit (Men and Women) 

 

Where to Watch

Viewers will be able to watch the races via their national broadcasters’ channel. For countries where there are no broadcasters, the ISU will offer a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. You will find the full list on the Where to Watch webpage.

Subscribe to the ISU Newsletter to receive the latest information about events, and to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive notifications when live streams start or new videos are published.

 

For further information on ISU Speed Skating visit https://www.isu.org/speed-skating