Valérie Maltais, a speed skater from La Baie, Quebec, clinched her first individual medal at the Winter Olympics, securing a bronze in the women’s 3,000 meters at her fifth Olympic appearance in Milan. Maltais completed the race in three minutes and 56.93 seconds at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.
Expressing her emotions, Maltais shared, “I felt confident during the race and am overwhelmed with relief and emotions now.” She acknowledged the support of her team, especially at the age of 35, stating, “Having a team that believed in me was crucial, even at this age.”
Maltais attributed her success to off-ice training, emphasizing the importance of a supportive team. Reflecting on her journey, she highlighted the impact of pushing herself out of her comfort zone to achieve her Olympic dreams.
Francesca Lollobrigida of Italy set an Olympic record by winning the race on her 35th birthday with a time of 3:54.28, followed by Ragne Wiklund of Norway, who secured the silver medal in 3:56.54.
Maltais, who arrived at the Olympics in excellent form with multiple World Cup finishes this season, including a silver in Salt Lake City, continued her impressive performance. Her teammate Isabelle Weidemann, a triple medallist from the 2022 Olympics, finished fifth in the race with a time of 3:59.24.
Weidemann, who also had a strong season leading up to the Olympics, showcased her talent by securing podium finishes in previous competitions. Laura Hall, another Canadian athlete in the event, made her Olympic debut, finishing 13th in the competition.
In a surprising turn of events, Hall’s victory in the Long Track Canada Cup and Olympic Skate-Off in Quebec City secured Canada’s third spot in the distance event for the Milano Cortina Olympics. Hall’s achievement was particularly significant as her brother, Daniel, is also debuting at the Olympics, following in the footsteps of their father, Mike, a former speed skater at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics.
