Canada’s short track speed skaters kicked off the ISU World Tour season impressively in Montreal, clinching two gold and bronze medals. Local skater William Dandjinou thrilled the crowd by winning the men’s 500 meters, while Courtney Sarault from Moncton, N.B., claimed victory in the women’s 1,000m event.
Standing tall at six-foot-three, Dandjinou, a 24-year-old emerging talent, dominated the men’s 500m race from start to finish, clocking an impressive time of 40.350 seconds at Maurice Richard Arena. He outpaced Italy’s Pietro Sighel (40.414) to secure the gold medal. Meanwhile, three-time Olympic medalist Steven Dubois of Lachenaie, Que., earned the bronze in 40.480, showcasing a strong performance after recovering from an injury.
Sarault continued Canada’s success by triumphing in a closely contested race, finishing first in the women’s 1,000m with a time of 1:28.185. She outshone competitors from South Korea and the U.S. to claim the gold medal, reflecting on the positive start to the season and expressing confidence in the team’s capabilities.
In the women’s 3,000m relay, Sarault, Danaé Blais, Kim Boutin, and Florence Brunelle contributed to Canada’s medal tally with a bronze, crossing the finish line with a time of 4:07.45. The event in Montreal is ongoing, with live coverage available on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. The results from the World Tour season will impact Olympic entries for the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Games in February.
