La Corée triomphe - Les Canadiens font bonne figure devant leurs fans

N'eut été du fait que l'hymne national canadien ait été entendu au début de la compétition lorsque le dignitaire de l'ISU a déclaré la compétition officiellement ouverte, l'hymne national coréen aurait été le seul à résonner à l'aréna Maurice-Richard cette fin de semaine.

Par Carl Savard

Photos par Tony Chung (@SHORTTRACKHD)

Une grosse journée de compétition attendait les athlètes aujourd’hui à Montréal alors que certains d’entre eux allaient devoir courser trois fois sur 1000m, une fois sur 3000m en plus de participer au relais.

Choi Min Jeong sans difficulté

Choi Min Jeong a confirmé son titre historique de première championne des quatre continents avec sa victoire sur 1000m, mais les amateurs canadiens ont eu droit à tout un spectacle de Courtney Sarault en finale alors que la jeune Canadienne a réussi à s’imposer dans la deuxième portion de la course pour infiltrer le trio Coréen, maintenir sa position et remporter l’argent. Kim Alang repart avec la médaille de bronze sur la distance. Choi a ajouté à sa domination en remportant le 3000m après avoir pris deux tours d'avance sur ses adversaires dès le début de la course. Kim Alang et Seo Whi Min croise la ligne d'arrivée derrière la nouvelle championne. Au classement cumulatif de la fin de semaine, la Coréenne Seo Whi Min termine au deuxième rang derrière sa compatriote Choi alors que la Canadienne Courtney Sarault termine au troisième rang. Sarault a vu ses chances de devenir vice-championne disparaître lors du 3000m alors qu'elle a omis de compter ses tours en fin de course. Une erreur qu'elle risque de ne plus commettre. Dans l’épreuve du relais, la Corée termine en première position devant le Canada et la Chine. 

Dubois dans l’ombre de Hwang Dae Heon

Hwang Dae Heon à lui aussi assuré  son couronnement au classement général avec sa victoire sur 1000m et encore une fois c’est Steven Dubois qui a dû se contenter du rôle de second violon remportant sa troisième médaille d’argent en trois finales.  Park Ji Won a remporté la médaille de bronze sur 1000m avant de terminer au premier rang de la super-finale 3000m devant Kim Dagyeom et An Kai. Au classement général, Hwang Dae Heon termine avec 103 points, la fierté local Steven Dubois (65 points) ravit ses fans avec une deuxième position à la maison alors que le Coréen Park Ji Won termine au troisième rang avec ses 47 points accumulés durant le weekend. 

Les Canadiens au classement général

Outre les médailles d’argent remportées dans les deux épreuves de relais, le titre de vice-champion de Steven Dubois et la troisième position de Courtney Sarault, Alyson Charles termine cinquième et Camille de Serres-Rainville onzième au classement final chez les femmes. Du côté des hommes, Charles Hamelin termine sixième alors que le jeune William Dandjinou termine au douzième rang. 

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Korea dominates - Canadians offer a great show at home

Had it not been for the fact that the Canadian national anthem was heard at the beginning of the competition when the ISU dignitary officially declared the opening of the competition, the Korean national anthem would have been the only one resonating at the Maurice-Richard arena this weekend. 

By Carl Savard

Photos by Tony Chung (@SHORTTRACKHD)

Athletes had a big day ahead of them Sunday as some of them would have to race three waves of 1000m, a 3000m superfinal and a team relay event before saying goodbye to this first edition of the ISU four continents short track championships.

Choi Min Jeong was just too strong

Choi Min Jeong confirmed her historical title of queen of the inaugural four continents championships with her win on 1000m, but Canadians fans were served an amazing show by one of their favorites in the second half of the 1000m final. Courtney Sarault used her power to infiltrate the Korean trio and maintain her position to win the silver medal finishing ahead of Kim Alang (bronze). Choi added another win on 3000m taking two laps on her opponents at the beginning of the endurance event to complete her perfect weekend. Kim Alang finished second while Seo Whi Min finished third to secure the Korean sweep on the distance. Courtney Sarault lost her chance of finishing second overall after failing to count her laps at the end of the 3000m. An error she probably won't make again. After two days of fast paced competition, Seo Whi Min (silver) and Courtney Sarault (bronze) joined Choi Min Jeong on the overall ranking podium. In the relay event, Korea grabbed gold finishing ahead of Canada and China. 

Steven Dubois in the shadow of Hwang Dae Heon

On the men’s side, despite not winning the 3000m, Hwang Dae Heon’s performances on 500m, 1000m and 1500m, winning gold on each distances, were more than enough to assure him the crown as the first ever men’s champion of the four continents. Once again on 1000m, Hwang was followed at the finish line by Canada’s Steven Dubois who played second fiddle to the new champion all weekend long winning silver on the three main distances. Park Ji Won finished third on 1000m and won the 3000m superfinal. Kim Dagyeom and An Kai finished second and third on 3000m. In the relay event, Korea won gold finishing ahead of Canada. The United States goes home with the bronze medal after a penalty was awarded to team China. 

Canadian athletes final rankings

In addition to winning two silver medals in the team relay, the vice-champion title from Steven Dubois and third place overall from Courtney Sarault, here are Canada's results in the final rankings. Alyson Charles finished in 5th place while Camille de Serres-Rainville finished 11th. On the men’s side, Charles Hamelin concluded his weekend in 6th place while young upcoming star William Dandjinou closed the weekend in 12th position. 

For full results click HERE

For the Day 1 recap click HERE

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Biney surprend - Choi et Hwang en contrôle

Des athlètes de huit pays se sont présentés sur la glace de l’aréna Maurice-Richard ce samedi à Montréal en lever de rideau de la première édition des Championnats quatre continents courte piste de l’Union internationale de patinage. 

Par Carl Savard

Photos par Tony Chung (@SHORTTRACKHD), Speed Skating Canada - Greg Kolz

Le Canada, les États-Unis, la Corée, le Japon, la Chine, Singapour, la Colombie et les Philippines sont représentés ce weekend. L’Europe ayant déjà ses championnats depuis 1997 - l'édition 2020 se tiendra dans deux semaines en Hongrie - l'avènement des Championnats quatre continents permet aux athlètes hors de la zone européenne d’avoir le même nombre de compétitions internationales que leurs rivaux européens. 

Une présence inattendue sur le podium du 1500m

L'Américaine Maame Biney, les Coréennes Kim Alang, Choi Min Jeong et Seo Whi Min, les Canadiennes Courtney Sarault et Camille de Serres-Rainville ainsi que la Japonaise Rima Yamana s'affrontaient en grande finale sur 1500m. Si le doublé or/argent des Coréennes Choi et Seo n'a surpris personne considérant la force de l'équipe Coréenne sur la distance, la médaille de bronze de Maame Biney, spécialiste du 500m, est plus surprenante. C'est avec l'énorme sourire qui l'a caractérise que l'Américaine de 19 ans s'est présentée dans le zone mixte après la course. «J'ai eu une première moitié de saison plutôt difficile. Au retour à la maison j'ai dû me me reposer, discuter avec mon entourage et mettre le doigt sur ce qui avait cloché et tout ça a rapporté. La fin de semaine dernière, j'ai remporté le 1500m aux championnats américains et je pensais que c'était peut être un accident mais un autre podium ce weekend sur 1500m dans une compétition internationale cette fois-ci c'est vraiment excitant!» Les Canadiennes Sarault et de Serres-Rainville ont terminé respectivement au 5e et 7e rang. 

Du côté des hommes, les trois athlètes Coréens Park Ji Won, Hwang Dae Heon, Kim Dagyeom ont imité leurs coéquipières en atteignant tous trois la grande finale. L'Américain Thomas Hong, les Canadiens Charles Hamelin et Steven Dubois et le Colombien Nicolas Laborde, bien connu des amateurs canadiens de patinage de vitesse à roues alignées, ont également mérité leur place en grande finale sur la distance. Au bout d'une finale à huit, remplie de rebondissements menant entre autres à deux pénalités, le Coréen Hwang l'emporte terminant devant Steven Dubois et Thomas Hong. Le jeune Américain était satisfait de son résultat. «Je savais qu'il y aurait beaucoup de d'action dans la finale et je voulais être patient à l'arrière. J'ai abouti plus loin dans le peloton que mon plan initial mais finalement ça a payé et j'ai réussi à remporter une médaille.»

La Corée et le Canada remplissent les podiums sur 500m

Les amateurs canadiens présents à l’aréna Maurice-Richard et ceux bien assis dans leur salon à suivre l'action sur le web avaient la chance de pouvoir encourager deux des leurs en grande finale sur 500m alors que Alyson Charles et Courtney Sarault prenaient le départ aux côtés de Choi Min Jeong et Maame Biney toutes deux médaillées sur 1500m plutôt dans l'après-midi. Charles et Sarault remportent respectivement l'argent et le bronze terminant derrière Choi. Biney n'aura pu monter sur le podium sur sa distance favorite, elle qui a été pénalisée lors de la finale.

Chez les hommes, la Corée avaient deux représentants, Hwang Dae Heon et Kim Dagyeom, le Canada pouvait compter sur Steven Dubois alors que l'Américain Thomas Hong complétait le quatuor de cette finale. Hwang semblait voler au dessus de la mêlée cet après-midi remportant sa deuxième médaille d'or de la journée. Son compatriote Kim Dagyeom remporte le bronze alors que Steven Dubois remporte une deuxième médaille d'argent. Dubois avait de bons mots pour le gagnant de la finale aujourd'hui. «Hwang patine à ce niveau là depuis un moment déjà. Il est toujours bien placé et en forme et il sait quoi faire pour gagner et c'est un peu ce qui nous différencie en ce moment. Je suis capable d'aller chercher les podiums mais apprendre à gagner les finales c'est une coche de plus.»

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Biney surprises - Choi and Hwang in control after Day 1

Athletes from eight countries are in action this weekend at the Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal (Can) for the first edition of the ISU four continents short track championships. Action started Saturday with the competition on 1500m and 500m.

By Carl Savard

Photos by Tony Chung (@SHORTTRACKHD), Speed Skating Canada - Greg Kolz, 

Canada, the United States, Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and Columbia  had skaters on the ice today for this historical first day of competition at the Four continents championships. European countries have been battling each others at the European championships since 1997. The creation of the Four continents championships gives equal opportunities for skaters outside of Europe to compete at the international level during the season.


An unexpected visitor on the podium on 1500m

USA's Maame Biney, Korea's Choi Min Jeong, Kim Alang and Seo Whi Min, Canada's Courtney Sarault and Camille de Serres-Rainville and Japan's Rina Yamana were on the starting line of this historical first final of these championships. If it was not a big surprise to see Koreans finishing first and second - Choi with the gold and Seo with the silver - not many would have bet on Maame Biney's presence on the podium on 1500m. The 19-year-old American was all smile entering the mixed zone after the race. "After having a really tough first half of a season, I had to go back home, recuperate, talk to a lot of people and figure out what I did wrong and it paid off. Last week I won the 1500m at the US championships and I thought it was just a one-time thing maybe, but a podium this weekend at the world level on this distance is really exciting!" Canada's Sarault and de Serres-Rainville respectively finished 5th and 7th.

Just like on the women's side, the three skaters from Korea skating the 1500m in the men's competition, Park Ji Won, Hwang Dae Heon, Kim Dagyeom all qualified for the big final on the distance. USA's Thomas Hong, Canada's Charles Hamelin and Steven Dubois and Columbia's Nicolas Laborde, well known by the Canadian fans as a strong inline speed skater, have also qualified for the A final. After thirteen and a half laps of action, Hwang Dae Heon finished first, Steven Dubois second and Thomas Hong third. Hong was satisfied with his performance. "I knew there was going to be a lot of passing and a lot of action and I tried to stay patient towards the back. Got pushed further back that I would have liked in the beginning but it kind of worked out and I was able to medal."

Korea and Canada fill up the podiums on 500m

The local fans had reasons to be excited as two of the four athletes in the A final of the women's 500m were Canadians. Alyson Charles and Courtney Sarault had to face the gold and bronze medallists of the 1500m Choi Min Jeong and Maame Biney. Charles and Sarault finished second and third behind Choi Min Jeong while Maame Biney was penalised preventing her from winning a medal on his favorite distance.

For the men on 500m, Korea had two skaters fighting against a Canadian and an American as Hwang Dae Heon, Kim Dagyeom, Steven Dubois and Thomas Hong all qualified for the big show. Hwang looked too strong for the pack leading the race with ease and finishing the race ahead of Dubois and Dagyeom. Dubois had good words for the winner after the race. "Hwang has been at the top for a few years now and he knows how to get the win. That's the biggest difference between him and me at the moment. I'm strong enough to get on the podium but knowing how to win races day in and day out is another level."

For full results, click HERE

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[Video] "I love finding new ways to teach skaters how to go faster while still having fun on their skates."

Pascal Briand doesn't need any introdution in the world of roller sport all around the globe. The multiple world champion who also represented France at the winter Olympics in long track speed skating was in Canada earlier this year to take part in the first edition of the Canada Roller Marathon and offer a clinic during the same weekend. As one of the best ambassador of the sport, Briand made himself available for a video interview with our editor Carl Savard.

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[Vidéo] «J'aime trouver des astuces pédagogiques pour aider les gens à aller plus vite et essayer d'avoir un maximum de plaisir sur les patins.»

Pascal Briand n'a plus besoin de présentation dans le monde du roller partout sur la planète.  En visite au Canada pour la première édition du Marathon Roller du Canada plus tôt cet été, le multiple champion du monde ayant également représenté la France aux Olympiques en patinage de vitesse longue piste, a pris un moment pour répondre aux questions de notre rédacteur Carl Savard.

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[Video] "I needed to escape from everything and everyone."

Arianna Fontana has already made a name for herself in the history of short track speed skating. She started so young on the international scene that it seems like she's been there forever. She came back to the competition this year after taking a break following the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic games where she won her eighth Olympic medal and first Olympic title. 

Here's a video interview conducted in Montreal during the second leg of the 2019-20 World cup season in short track speed skating.

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World Cup #2: A weekend to forget for most of the Dutch athletes

While the Dutch ladies were on all the podiums on individual distances in Salt Lake City last week, everything seemed complicated during the second leg of the World cup season held during the weekend in Canada. As for the men’s team, the absence of Dutch leader Sjinkie Knegt definitely leaves a hole difficult to fill. 

By Carl Savard

Photos by Martin Holtom

Nothing went right for Suzanne Schulting

Reigning overall world champion Suzanne Schulting won a silver medal on 1500m and a gold one on 1000m during the first competition of the World cup season in Salt Lake City. In Montreal, the 22-year-old from Groningen was penalised in her semifinal Saturday on 1000m and fell during the quarterfinals on 500m Sunday. The relay events couldn’t even bring her back her smile as the ladies’ team had to settle for first in the B final and the mix relay team was penalised in the main final. 

Her teammates Yara van Kerkhof and Lara van Ruijven had also won medals in the USA in World cup #1. Van Kerkhof, silver medallist at the Pyeongchang Olympic games in 2018 on 500m, had left Salt Lake City with a silver medal on the same distance while reigning 500m world champion Lara van Ruijven had also won a medal (bronze) on the second 500m of the first weekend of competition this season. In Montreal. van Kerkhof had to settle for a first place in the B final of the 500m while van Ruijven couldn’t do better than a presence in the quarterfinals on the same distance. Definitely a weekend to forget for the power trio of the Kingdom of the Low Countries.

A rookie made a good impression

Even though the competition was difficult for most of the team, one rookie definitely performed well enough to leave Canada with a smile for her individual performances. 

Xandra Velzeboer, 18 years of age, was able to reach the B final on 1000m and finished second of that race. “I’m very happy! I have some good memories about this ice rink and kind of felt at home and I didn’t expect this result at all. It is very exciting to be with the national team on the World cup circuit. It’s my first year training with them. I had a really good summer and I feel much stronger.” Velzeboer visited Montreal last spring shen she took part in the World junior championships in which she won a silver medal on 500m and battled in the main final on 1500m. 

The absence of the Knegt leaves a void despite Breeuwsma’s good start

Daan Breeuwsma finished in second place of the B final in the 1000m in Montreal and was pretty happy with his result. “Honestly I think it’s the kind of results I can be happy with at this point of my career. Of course you always aim higher but I think it’s a good start of season for me.” The 31-year-old veteran finished in second place of the B final the previous weekend in Salt Lake City on the same distance. “As for the team, sometimes things just don’t go your way. We had some falls, some penalties and we made bad choices but sometimes there are weekends like that. We just need to keep moving forward, train hard and come back stronger in three weeks in Asia.” When asked about the health status of his friend Sjinkie Knegt, who was struck by two major off-ice incident in the last years, Breeuwsma was positive when it came to discuss the future of the 2015 overall world champion. “We don’t know yet when he will be able to compete again but I think he is doing pretty good. His leg injury requires a lot of work to recover but he’s training hard and seems to recover pretty good. But hey, it’s Sjinkie, I’m sure we’ll see him back in action.”

Other than Breeuwsma’s positive performance on the second 1000m of World cup #2, the best results for the men were Dylan Hoogerwerf’s third place in the B final of the first 1000m of the competition and Friso Emons' eleventh position on 1500m. The relay team was penalised in the quarterfinals. An unusual result for a team who was still able to participate in the main final in Salt Lake City despite lacking their ultimate finisher Sjinkie Knegt.

For the detailed results, click HERE

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Boutin gives more to the crowd - Liu gets the prize on 500m

If the last day of World cup #2 wasn’t as chaotic as Saturday, bad luck still stuck to some of the superstars of short track. It sure wasn’t the case with Canada’s Kim Boutin who added two other medals to her collection. 

By Carl Savard

Photos by Martin Holtom and Speed Skating Canada - Greg Kolz

Boutin and Liu grab gold on 500m

After irreproachable performances in the rounds leading to the final, Canada’s Kim Boutin and Alyson Charles had tough opponents to beat in the big final if they wanted to win a medal. Poland’s Natalia Maliszewska and Italy’s Martina Valcepina are 500m specialists and they were ready to fight. If from the get go the rhythm seemed way too fast for Charles, Kim Boutin was at ease with the fast pace she was setting for the others. A pace that helped her win her fourth gold medal in the fourth individual distance she was competing on since the beginning of the season. “The competition is fierce, the girls can follow a fast pace. My goal was to be more strategic, because when I’m strategic, I’m calm and when I’m calm, I’m fast.” Valcepina won the silver medal while Maliszewska won the bronze. 

On the men’s side, Liu Shaolin Sandor managed to win the gold medal thanks to a flawless maneuver in the last portion of the race to pass Korea’s Hwang Dae Heon. The Korean is leaving Montreal with the silver medal while Russia’s Pavel Sitnikov finished in third place. Liu was really proud of his win. “I'm not a 500m skater because my start is not as fast as the other guys but we didn't start the race too fast. I skated under forthy seconds on the distance for the first time last week and I think I'm getting better on the 500m.”

1000m: A silver medal for Sarault, Elistratov brings down a Korean wall

On 1000m, the local fans were excited to see Courtney Sarault in the A final on the distance. Joining her on the line were China’s Han Yu Tong and Zhang Yuting, Russia’s Ekaterina Efremenkova and Italy’s Cynthia Mascitto. Halfway through, Sarault took control of the race and seemed to be heading to the top of the podium until Han Yu Tong found a last boost of energy to pass her at the end. Efremenkova leaves with a bronze medal. “I'm really satisfied with my silver medal but of course I'm always going for the gold. That's kind of my motto. For me to get the silver it was really nice. It motivates me to go and train to work on that last lap so I can get that gold.”

With highlight reel type of performance, Russia’s Semen Elistratov offered quite a show to the crowd of the Maurice-Richard arena. A performance that allowed him to defeat a strong group composed of three Korean skaters and one Kazakh. With a fully controlled moved, Elistratov was able to get out of the Korean pack and cross the finish line first. He was joined on the podium by Park In Wook (silver) and Park Ji Won (bronze).

A tie a the top on the men’s relay!

A few times this weekend, the results were decided by a thousandth of a second but even that tiny fraction of time wasn’t enough to determine the winner of the men’s relay. With only three laps to go, Hungary was able to move up in the pack after an error by China and ended up taking the lead on the following exchange. While Liu Shaolin Sandor was slowed down by his fight to stay ahead of the Russian skater, Hwang Dae Heon gathered speed on the outside to come and challenge Liu at the finish line. The photo finish showed the two skaters crossing the line at the same time with a time of 6:55.968. Russia finished in third place of this crazy relay event. 

The women’s relay final saw China finishing first while Russia finished second. The Canadian ladies ended their weekend with the bronze medal. “I’m not satisfied. I would have liked for us to finish second or even first. We did a good job although the team is young and we have things to learn from all the small errors we did today. For example in my finish I was way to wide and there are some adjustments that I need to make concerning that.” These words from Kim Boutin say a lot. Only gold can satisfy the Sherbrooke native right now.

For yesterday's article, click HERE

For Friday's article, click HERE

For the detailed results, click HERE

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