Canada has achieved remarkable success at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics by securing consecutive gold medals in women’s team speedskating pursuit. On Tuesday, Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin, and Valerie Maltais triumphed over the Netherlands in a thrilling gold-medal race.
Historic Victory in Women’s Team Pursuit
The Canadian team started the race with a deficit but surged ahead, finishing just 0.96 seconds in front of their Dutch competitors. Weidemann expressed her disbelief, stating she felt a rush of emotions after their win. “We had two races to do today, and we couldn’t look very far ahead,” she explained.
Medal Milestone for Canada
This victory marks the third gold medal for Canada in three days after a slow start in the competition. Before this, Canada had not secured a win in the first eight days. In total, the country has now earned twelve medals: three gold, four silver, and five bronze.
- Gold Medals: 3
- Silver Medals: 4
- Bronze Medals: 5
In the semifinals, Canada displayed dominant performance by defeating the U.S. by a margin of 4.22 seconds, setting the stage for the final clash with the Netherlands.
A Memorable Day for Canadian Fans
The gold-medal race took place during an exhilarating time for Canadian Olympic supporters. While the speedskating event unfolded, Rachel Homan also secured a victory against Sweden in women’s curling, marking the Canadian rink’s third consecutive win.
“It was so wild to celebrate with our fans,” Maltais said. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with cheering Canadian supporters who came out in strong numbers.
Podium Moments and Reflections
With arms around one another, Weidemann, Blondin, and Maltais sang ‘O Canada’ atop the podium as their national flag was raised. Blondin described their composure during the race, noting that they were calm and focused on their tasks.
Maltais made history earlier in the Games by claiming Canada’s first medal in Italy, earning bronze in the 3,000 meters. Weidemann and Blondin are both from Ottawa, while Maltais hails from La Baie, Quebec.
This victory solidifies Canada’s position in Olympic speedskating. With strong performances in every event, the athletes continue to inspire a nation.
