Canadian speed skaters Valerie Maltais and Beatrice Lamarche showcased impressive performances at the opening of the World Cup event in Salt Lake City. Maltais secured a silver medal in the 3,000 meters race with a personal best time of 3:56.53, while Lamarche clinched bronze in the 1,000 meters event.
Expressing her satisfaction with her race, Maltais attributed her success to diligent training during the summer. The competition was fierce, with Joy Beune of the Netherlands winning gold in the 3,000 meters and Ragne Wiklund taking bronze.
Maltais, a 35-year-old athlete from La Baie, Quebec, had previously won a team pursuit gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics. She has also competed in short-track speed skating at multiple Olympic Games, earning a silver medal in the 3,000-meter team relay at the 2014 Sochi Games.
Joining Maltais on the ice, Lamarche, a 27-year-old from Quebec City, secured her first individual-distance World Cup medal by finishing with a personal best time of 1:12.77 in the 1,000 meters event. Jutta Leerdam and Femke Kok from the Netherlands claimed gold and silver, respectively.
Both athletes expressed their joy and surprise at their podium finishes, with Lamarche emphasizing her excitement for the upcoming events. The next World Cup competition is set to take place in Calgary, with live coverage available on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem throughout the weekend.