The Canadian short track speed skating team had an impressive performance on the first day of the second World Tour stop in Montreal, securing four gold medals. Among the winners was local favorite William Dandjinou, who claimed victory in both the men’s 500 meters and the 1,500 meters events.
In the men’s 500 meters, Dandjinou, a 24-year-old athlete, clocked a time of 41.126 seconds to clinch his second win of the season. The Dutch competitor, Jens Van’T Wout, was disqualified for a false start, leaving Dandjinou to lead the race from start to finish. He was followed by China’s Lui Shaoang and Sun Long, who took silver and bronze, respectively.
Later in the day, Dandjinou continued his winning streak by securing another gold in the men’s 1,500 meters event. Despite Félix Roussel initially finishing second, a penalty for an improper pass bumped him down the rankings, allowing Steven Dubois to claim the bronze medal behind Japan’s Miyata Shogo.
Courtney Sarault, from Moncton, N.B., also shone at the event, winning her second consecutive gold in Montreal by dominating the women’s 1,000 meters race. She outpaced her competitors to finish first, with Choi Min-jeong of South Korea and Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands following closely behind.
Additionally, Sarault played a pivotal role in helping Canada secure the gold medal in the women’s 3,000 meters relay, alongside Kim Boutin, Danaé Blais, and Florence Brunelle. The Canadian team redeemed themselves after a previous bronze medal, crossing the line first ahead of South Korea and Japan.
The competition continues with Sunday’s medal rounds, and fans can watch the live coverage on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. The tour will progress to Poland and the Netherlands for the next stops before the world championships in Montreal in March. A detailed live streaming schedule is available for viewers.