Canadian speedskaters take silver in women's team sprint at world championship

Canada's Beatrice Lamarche races in the women's 1000-metre event at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary, Alta., Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Canada's Brooklyn McDougall, Beatrice Lamarche and Ivanie Blondin won silver in the women's team sprint Thursday to open the ISU world speedskating championship. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol

HAMAR — Canada’s Brooklyn McDougall, Beatrice Lamarche and Ivanie Blondin won silver in the women’s team sprint Thursday to open the ISU world speedskating championship.

Calgary’s McDougall, Quebec City’s Lamarche and Ottawa’s Blondin finished second in one minute 27.23 seconds in their first race together as a trio.

McDougall was a late replacement for Carolina Hiller of Prince George, B.C., who was unavailable to compete.

“We have a lot of trust in Brooklyn and we skate well together,” Lamarche said. “We’re all experienced skaters in this discipline and did good today even with the difficult circumstances.”

A Dutch team won gold in 1:25.57 and a Polish team won bronze in 1:27.80.

The Canadian men’s squad of Laurent Dubreuil of Levis, Que., Anders Johnson of Burnaby, B.C., and Connor Howe of Canmore, Alta., finished sixth.

In long-track competition, Valerie Maltais of La Baie, Que., was the top Canadian in sixth place in the women’s 3,000 metres.

Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen was seventh in the men’s 5,000.

Competition continues on Friday.