A group of Canadian female athletes made their first appearance in Olympic speed skating on Monday, competing in the 1,000 meters event. Béatrice Lamarche led the trio, finishing in fifth place. Lamarche’s time of 1:14.73 seconds was faster than Japan’s Rio Yamada. She started in sixth place after 200 meters, moved up to second at the 600-meter mark, and held the third position before the final pair of skaters took to the ice.
CBC Sports analyst Anastasia Bucsis praised Lamarche’s performance, highlighting her composure under pressure. Lamarche’s fifth-place finish marked Canada’s best result in the event since the 2010 Vancouver Games, where Christine Nesbitt clinched gold and Kristina Groves finished fourth.
Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands set a new Olympic record with a gold medal-winning time of 1:12.31, surpassing her teammate Femke Kok, who secured the silver with a time of 1:12.59. Miho Takagi from Japan claimed the bronze in 1:13.95, while Brittany Bowe of the United States finished fourth with a time of 1:14.55.
Leerdam, who won silver at the previous Olympics, expressed her joy at winning gold and breaking the Olympic record. She dedicated the victory to her fiance, Jake Paul, who was present at the event.
The speed skating races at the temporary arena for the Milan-Cortina Winter Games have witnessed three Olympic records so far, showcasing the high level of competition. Lamarche will also compete in the women’s 500 meters and 1,500 meters events alongside her teammate Valérie Maltais, who secured a bronze medal in the women’s 3,000 meters race.
Carolina Hiller-Donnelly and Rose Laliberté-Roy, representing Canada, finished 26th and 27th, respectively, in the 1,000 meters event. Hiller-Donnelly, who tragically lost her mother to cancer last year, showed resilience and determination in her Olympic debut.
Lamarche’s successful season began with Canadian titles and a bronze medal at the World Cup opener in Salt Lake City. Her progress is attributed to mental training she started four years ago, helping her overcome anxiety and focus on her own performance rather than comparing herself to others.