Most successful Canadian speed skaters at mid-season [ep1]

Team Canada had some great moments during the first half of the 2019-2020 speed skating season. 

By Jackob Savard

Photos: Tony chung & ISU speed skating - Getty Image

During the upcoming weeks, we’ll take a look at some of the Canadian speed skaters who stood out during the first half of the 2019-2020 season. Here’s the first text of this three articles series.  

Kim Boutin

After dominating the Canadian championships in September, Kim Boutin had a prolific start of her 2019-2020 international season. Boutin couldn’t ask for much more as she collected a medal in every individual distances she raced so far. Adding to her eight individual medals (six gold, one silver and one bronze) she also contributed to team Canada’s podiums in the ladies’ 3000m relay which even included a win in Shanghai. She’ll now aim for the overall win at the all new Four Continents championships in Montréal in early January.

Isabelle Weidemann 

Ontarian Isabelle Weidemann also had a strong start to her season. Long distances specialist ended up on three individual podiums including a strong win at the first 3000m of the season in Minsk. She currently sits at the third overall position of the ladies’ long distances ranking. Weidemann also took part in team Canada’s success in the team pursuit event.   

Jordan Belchos 

Jordan Belchos is another Canadian who showed great things so far this season. The inline skating marathon Canadian champion had his best moment in the mass start event in Nagano. Winning the mass start race in Nagano in front of Bart Swings and Joey Mantia, Belchos became the first ever Canadian to win a men’s mass start on the World Cup circuit. It was Belchos’ first individual World Cup win in career. He also helped Canada get two medals in the men's team pursuit.

Men’s team sprint 

The men’s team sprint squad also had some success collecting three bronze medals in four races. Team Canada mixed things up using different trios all season long and getting similar results every time. David La Rue, Tyson Langelaar, Gilmore Junio, Laurent Dubreuil and Alex Boisvert-Lacroix all took part in at least one team sprint medal performance for Canada.

Stay tuned for the next article of this series which will showcase more Canadian skaters who are successful so far this year!

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