Canada’s long-track speed skaters have faced a bit of a downturn this season. After collecting 23 medals—including five gold—on last year’s World Cup circuit, the team managed just 16 podium finishes and two golds in 2023-24. That drop in results saw Canada slip from fourth to seventh in the overall medal standings.

As the World Single Distances Championships take place in Norway from Thursday to Sunday, another challenge awaits. Last year, competing on home ice in Calgary, Canada set a national record with 10 medals—second only to the dominant Netherlands. Matching that tally will be a tough ask this time around, especially after an inconsistent season.

Still, a few Canadian skaters remain strong podium contenders at Hamar Olympic Hall, famously known as the Vikingskipet (Viking Ship).

Medal Contenders

Leading the charge is Ivanie Blondin, a five-time world champion and two-time Olympic medallist. She had the most successful World Cup campaign among Canadian skaters, earning eight medals—four in individual events. Her biggest highlight was an unexpected victory in the 3,000m opener in Japan, marking Canada’s only solo gold of the season. She also added a mass start silver at the same event, plus a bronze and another silver in mass start races later in the season.

Blondin also found success in relay events, securing four more medals, including a gold and a silver in the women’s team sprint. Last year, she helped Canada claim the world title in that event while also winning silver in both the mass start and team pursuit. However, the Olympic-champion pursuit trio of Blondin, Isabelle Weidemann, and Valérie Maltais has struggled this season, failing to reach the podium in either of its two starts. Individually, Weidemann and Maltais each captured just one solo medal.

On the men’s side, Laurent Dubreuil remains Canada’s top hope. A specialist in the 500m, he won the event at the 2021 world championships before taking silver in both 2022 and 2023. He also owns an Olympic silver in the 1,000m and helped Canada win back-to-back world titles in the men’s team sprint, including last year’s triumph in Calgary.

Dubreuil was the only Canadian man to win a medal at a World Cup event this season, picking up six despite battling a groin injury. After going two months without a podium, he bounced back late in the season, reaching the top three in five of the final six 500m races.

Once again, he’ll likely be chasing American sensation Jordan Stolz, who dominated the World Cup circuit with 17 wins across the 500m, 1,000m, and 1,500m events.

Canadian Team at Worlds

Men

  • Ted-Jan Bloemen – 5,000m, 10,000m
  • Laurent Dubreuil – 500m, 1,000m, team sprint
  • Christopher Fiola – 500m
  • Graeme Fish – 5,000m, 10,000m
  • Connor Howe – 1,000m, 1,500m, team sprint
  • Anders Johnson – 500m, team sprint
  • David La Rue – 1,000m, 1,500m, mass start

Women

  • Ivanie Blondin – 1,500m, 3,000m, mass start, team sprint, team pursuit
  • Laura Hall – 5,000m
  • Rose Laliberté-Roy – 500m
  • Béatrice Lamarche – 1,000m, team sprint
  • Valérie Maltais – 1,500m, 3,000m, mass start, team pursuit
  • Brooklyn McDougall – 500m, team sprint
  • Isabelle Weidemann – 3,000m, 5,000m, team pursuit

With the season nearing its conclusion, Canada’s skaters will aim to finish strong in Norway, hoping to rediscover some of last year’s world championship magic.