By Canadian Press

Stolz claims second world speedskating gold, Canadians earn double silver

Feb 17, 2024 | 4:19 PM

CALGARY — Speedskating star Jordan Stolz of the United States won his second gold medal in as many days at the world championship Saturday, while Canadians earned double silver medals in the mass starts.

Dutchwoman Irene Schouten and Canada’s Ivanie Blondin repeated their Olympic one-two finish in women’s mass start. Antoine Gelinas-Beaulieu of Sherbrooke, Que., claimed silver in the men’s mass start behind victorious Bart Swings of Belgium.

The 19-year-old Stolz became the first male to win world championship gold in three individual distances last year. He’s a win away from repeating his hat trick at Calgary’s Olympic Oval. Stolz competes in the 1,500-metre race Sunday.

Schouten recovered from an early fall in the 16-lap mass start to work her way back into the pack. The Dutchwoman edged Ottawa’s Blondin in the final sprint as she did in Beijing’s Olympic Games two years ago. 

Blondin’s teammate Valerie Maltais fell with just over three laps to go in a collision with Schouten. Gelinas-Beaulieu’s silver medal was the best international result of his career in an individual race. 

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Stolz posted a track-record time of one minute 6.05 seconds less than a month after setting a 1,000-metre world record in Salt Lake City. 

China’s Zhongyan Ning was second in 1:06.53 and Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands third in 1:06.80.

Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil, who was second to Stolz in the 500 metres, finished fourth.

Japan’s Miho Takagi took the women’s 500 metres in 1:12.83. China’s Mei Han was the silver medallist in 1:13.27 and Dutchwoman placed third in 1:13.28.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2024.

The Canadian Press