Canadian short track speed skater William Dandjinou had a standout performance this past weekend in Montreal, marking another impressive milestone in his career. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
Canadian athletes had a stellar weekend across various sports, with short-track speed skaters leading the charge in Montreal, Rachel Homan securing a major curling title, and two swimmers adding more medals to their growing collections.
Short Track Speed Skating Triumphs in Montreal
Montreal hosted its second ISU Short Track World Tour event this weekend, originally set for Salt Lake City but moved due to track issues. Canadian skaters took full advantage of competing at home, adding an impressive eight medals to last week’s haul, including six golds.
William Dandjinou stood out once again, winning the men’s 1,500m and 1,000m events, capturing silver in the 500m, and helping the men’s relay team earn another gold. This marks his fifth medal (four of them gold) in just two World Tour stops, putting him well ahead in the Crystal Globe standings for the season.
Steven Dubois also shined, winning the 500m and securing gold in the men’s and mixed relays. Last weekend, Dubois grabbed four medals, placing him fourth overall in the tour rankings.
The Canadian women’s relay team claimed gold as well, bouncing back strongly from a disqualification last week and narrowly avoiding a crash in the semifinals. The next leg of the Short Track World Tour is scheduled for early December in China, following the cancellation of the Four Continents Championships in Salt Lake City due to venue issues.
Rachel Homan Wins Pan Continental Curling Title
Canadian curling champion Rachel Homan added another achievement to her list by winning the women’s final at the Pan Continental Curling Championships. In a close game against South Korea, Homan’s team stole a point in the end, clinching a 6-5 victory in Lacombe, Alberta. This win makes her the first Canadian to take the women’s title at this young event, which started in 2022.
Homan’s journey to the title was flawless, going undefeated through the tournament. Meanwhile, Brad Gushue, another top Canadian curler, fell short in his quest for a men’s title three-peat after losing to Japan in the semifinals and to the United States in the bronze match. Homan and Gushue now head to Nisku, Alberta, for the Canadian Open, part of the Grand Slam curling tour, which kicks off Tuesday.
Disappointing Weekend for Canadian Figure Skaters
In France, Canadian figure skaters faced a tough competition, with only two entries representing the country at the Grand Prix event in Angers. Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, who had podiumed in France the previous year, finished fifth in pairs, while Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac placed seventh in ice dance. Pereira and Michaud will compete next at the Cup of China.
Swimmers Mary-Sophie Harvey and Ingrid Wilm Shine in Singapore
Mary-Sophie Harvey closed out the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Singapore with three silver medals, finishing fifth overall among female swimmers and amassing $31,000 in prize money. Over three weeks, Harvey earned nine medals in the tour’s short-course pools, making her Canada’s top performer in the women’s standings.
Ingrid Wilm also wrapped up the tour on a high note, winning two bronzes this weekend and ranking tenth overall with seven medals. Harvey and Wilm and other Canadian athletes including Olympic medalists Summer McIntosh and Penny Oleksiak will compete at next month’s short-course world championships in Hungary.
