Canada’s Weidemann takes 3,000-metre bronze in World Cup speedskating

By The Canadian Press on November 30, 2024.

BEIJING – Canadian speedskater Isabelle Weidemann finished on the World Cup podium Saturday, taking bronze in the women’s 3,000-metre event in Beijing.

Weidemann posted a time of four minutes and 2.02 seconds in her fastest race of the season.

The 29-year-old from Ottawa won Olympic bronze at the same venue at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Saturday’s race saw Joy Beune of the Netherlands take silver and Norway’s Ragne Wiklund capture gold with a time of 4:00.10.

Canadians fared well in the race, with Ivanie Blondin, who also hails from Ottawa, finishing eighth and Valerie Maltais of La Baie, Que., coming in 10th.

Graeme Fish of Moose Jaw, Sask., came seventh in the men’s 5,000, trailed by Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen, who finished ninth.

Weidemann’s podium finish moved her into fourth place in the overall World Cup long distance rankings with 80 points. She trails Wiklund (114), Beune (102) and Blondin (94).

“I feel I’m starting to find my racing legs a little bit,” Weidemann said in a release.

“This weekend, I wanted to be aggressive and showcase everything that I’ve been working on over the summer, and not let those little tactical things get in the way of my performance.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 30, 2024.

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