The global short-track speed skating season is set to kick off this week with the World Tour opener taking place in Vancouver, followed by a competition in Montreal next week. This seven-stop tour will also make stops in South Korea, China, Poland, and the Netherlands, culminating in the world championships in Seoul in March.
Canada is an ideal starting point for the tour as it has emerged as one of the leading countries in short-track speed skating. Last season, the Canadian team, known as the Ice Maples, secured an impressive 31 total medals, including 15 gold medals across the four World Tour stops, clinching their second consecutive team Crystal Globe trophy. This achievement surpassed second-place South Korea, which garnered 21 medals, including nine gold medals.
Will Dandjinou from Canada defended his title as the individual men’s overall champion, while Courtney Sarault claimed her first women’s overall crown.
Despite their success, Canada faced setbacks in the major events of the season. At the Winter Olympics in Italy, Canadian short-track skaters secured five of the country’s 21 medals. Notably, Sarault stood out with four medals, including two silver and two bronze, while Steven Dubois clinched gold in the men’s 500 meters and a silver in the mixed relay.
Although Canada performed well, there was room for improvement as Dandjinou fell short of expectations, winning only a silver in the mixed relay at the Olympics. Consequently, Canada finished third in the short-track standings behind the Netherlands and South Korea.
The world championships in Montreal provided another opportunity for Dandjinou and the Canadian team to excel, but they faced challenges. Dandjinou, the defending 1,500m champion, missed the podium in all his individual races, while Sarault also failed to secure a solo medal. Despite this, Canada retained their men’s relay title and secured a silver in the mixed relay, with Dubois winning his second consecutive 500m world title.
Following disappointing performances at the Olympics and world championships, Dandjinou opted for a change of pace by skipping the initial World Tour stops in Vancouver and Montreal to explore long-track skating. He plans to rejoin the short-track World Tour in South Korea next month and aims to compete in the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps.
Canada has selected 12 skaters, including Dubois and Sarault, to compete in the upcoming events. Notable team members include Félix Roussel, Florence Brunelle, and Danaé Blais, who all contributed to relay medals in the previous season.
Viewers can watch the World Tour events live on the CBC Gem streaming service and the CBC Sports website, with coverage starting this weekend in Vancouver and continuing through the season. Additionally, the CBC TV network’s new show, CBC Sports Primetime, will feature highlights from the Vancouver event.
