Canada’s short track speed skaters kicked off the ISU World Tour season impressively in Montreal over the weekend, clinching two gold and bronze medals. Local hero William Dandjinou thrilled the crowd with a win in the men’s 500 meters, while Courtney Sarault from Moncton, N.B., claimed victory in the women’s 1,000m event. Dandjinou, a 24-year-old standout athlete, dominated the race from start to finish, clocking in at 40.350 seconds at Maurice Richard Arena, narrowly defeating Italy’s Pietro Sighel (40.414).
Meanwhile, three-time Olympic medalist Steven Dubois from Lachenaie, Que., secured the bronze with a time of 40.480, surpassing Montreal’s Maxime Laoun (40.557). Dubois, the reigning world champion in the distance, showcased a remarkable performance, moving up from the fifth position to secure the medal after returning from injury.
Sarault continued Canada’s success by triumphing in a closely contested race, crossing the finish line first in 1:28.185. She outpaced South Korea’s Kim Gil-li (1:28.250) and American Corinne Stoddard (1:28.279) to claim the gold. Sarault expressed her excitement about starting the season on a high note, emphasizing the boost it provides to her and the team’s morale.
Moreover, Sarault contributed to the Canadian Ice Maples’ medal tally by securing bronze in the women’s 3,000m relay alongside teammates Danaé Blais, Kim Boutin, and Florence Brunelle. The quartet achieved a time of 4:07.45, landing them on the podium. The Korean White Tigers clinched gold in a close finish ahead of the Dutch Lions.
The competition in Montreal will continue on Sunday, with live coverage starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. The ongoing World Tour season will play a crucial role in determining the Olympic entries for each country and the participants for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games in February.
