Canadian speed skater Béatrice Lamarche made a notable impression in her Olympic debut, achieving a fifth-place finish in the 1,000m event. Competing on a significant stage, Lamarche clocked in at 1:14.73, surpassing Japan’s Rio Yamada during the race.
Olympic Highlights
- Date: Olympic Speed Skating Event – Date of the 1,000m Debut: Monday
- Location: Milano Speed Skating Stadium
- Gold Medalist: Jutta Leerdam (Netherlands) – Time: 1:12.31
- Silver Medalist: Femke Bol (Netherlands) – Time: 1:12.59
- Bronze Medalist: Miho Takagi (Japan) – Time: 1:13.95
- Brittany Bowe: USA – Fourth place (1:14.55)
Lamarche was the leading skater among her Canadian peers, as Carolina Hiller-Donnelly and Rose Laliberté-Roy finished 26th and 27th, respectively. Hiller-Donnelly recorded a time of 1:17.156, while Laliberté-Roy finished at 1:17.150.
Lamarche’s Upcoming Events
The 27-year-old athlete is set to compete next in the women’s 500m event on Saturday and will also race in the 1,500m on February 20. She will be joined by teammate Valérie Maltais, who previously secured a bronze medal in the women’s 3,000m.
Career Achievements and Mental Progress
- October: Won two Canadian titles
- November: Claimed her first World Cup medal (bronze) in Salt Lake City
- Personal best: 1:12.77, narrowly missing the Canadian record of 1:12.68
Lamarche’s impressive journey has been bolstered by mental training that began four years ago. Overcoming anxiety and feelings of comparison, she shifted her focus to personal performance. “It helped me refocus on myself and stop worrying about what others were doing,” she stated.
The evolution of her mindset reflects her commitment to the sport, positioning her for a successful athletic career ahead. Fans and supporters eagerly await her next races as she aims for more podium finishes in these Games.
