Why You Should Be Watching Canada’s Most Successful Sport

I first got into speed skating during the ‘98 Nagano Olympics (aka the year of the epic Roots hats) when Catriona Le May Doan skated to gold in the 500m. The fluidity, grace, and power – all while wearing a futuristic-looking, aerodynamic suit – was captivating. So was the winning. Canada has more medals in speed skating than any other Olympic winter sport.

Years later, I was able to attend the Canadian Trials for the 2010 Olympics in Richmond, BC. Unlike during the Olympics a few weeks later, I was able to stand (and walk around) right at ice-level for only $5 and watch the world’s best – Clara Hughes, Christine Nesbitt, Kristina Groves, Jeremy Wotherspoon, and Cindy Klassen – compete for a spot on the Olympic team. I even looked to my right at one moment, and noticed the person beside me WAS Catriona Le May Doan, with her kids. (Who wasn’t in fact the 6’2 I thought she was in my mind, and actually closer to 5’6.)

While the best you can do outside of the Olympics is find 30-minute recap highlights of world events, Canadians continue to dominate the sport. (And, also make the fastest ice in the world in Calgary – thanks to our skilled techniques and thinner, high-altitude air.) But, we truly got home ice advantage during the pandemic, when our Canadian long track speed skaters trained outside on Gap Lake in the Rockies to prepare for the World Championships, due to their facilities being closed. And, boy did that pay-off. 

In the recent Long Track World Championships, Ivanie Blondin took silver in the women’s mass start, while Laurent Dubreuil won gold in the 500m (the first Canadian to do so since Jeremy Wotherspoon!) The women and men’s pursuit teams also scored silver medals, with the women’s team being narrowly beaten by the Dutch team who came from behind to win in just 0.17 seconds.

The Short Track World Champions also just took place this past weekend. Short track is almost hypnotic – especially the relay races – with the skaters racing around an international-sized hockey rink at 50km/h. They go so fast, and are so fluid in their movements that the rink comes across as almost tiny on TV. If all goes well, skaters either pass each other on the outside or take a riskier inside pass to move ahead of their opponents. But, sometimes trying to overtake your opponents goes horribly wrong, with skaters clipping skates or running into each other causing some – or even most – of the competitors to go flying into the boards. Like, when this Australian unexpectedly won a gold medal!

Renowned short-tracker Charles Hamelin was back in action this weekend at the Short Track World Champions at age 36, and showed the kids how it’s done by winning gold in the 1500m. But, the real Canadian revelation was New Brunswick’s Courtney Sarault, who got a silver medal in the 1500m and a bronze medal in the 1000m. This secured her second place in the overall rankings – otherwise known as “Vice World Champion”, which is how I’d like to be referred to from now on. No one could come close to touching Dutch skater Suzanne Schulting, though, who won all three of her individual races AND a relay with her team to solidify herself as the World Champion.

Speedskating is a thrilling sport, and I really wish that more Canadians would get to see it outside of the Olympics. Especially, when we continue to crush it on the international stage…errr…rink.

Follow Speedskating Canada on Twitter @SSC_PVC or Instagram @SSC_PVC to find out about when events are coming up that you can watch!