SOCHI, Russia – Short-track star Charles Hamelin won his second gold medal in as many days to lead a three-medal effort by Canadian speedskaters at the Samsung ISU World Cup on Sunday.
Hamelin, from Sainte-Julie, Que., finished first in the 1,000 metres, while Gabrielle Waddell of Red Deer, Alta., won her first career individual medal by taking bronze in the women’s 500 metres. Waddell later helped the women’s relay team win a silver.
Hamelin, who won the men’s 500 on Saturday, earned his latest gold with a time of one minute 25.159 seconds at the Iceberg Arena, which will host the short-track events at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
“I was trying to be more patient and save energy for the end,” said Hamelin. “So in the middle of the race, I tried a pass on the outside, but I got caught by the Korean with his deep track and I almost fell. I didn’t panic. I got back on my blades and got back to the pack.
“There was a lot of action, but I was able to make my way through to first and win the race. I hope this is going to be a good sign for me in one year.”
Semen Elistratov of Russia was second and American J.R. Celski finished third. Jinkyu Noh of South Korea was penalized and settled for fourth.
Waddell reached the podium despite falling in an eventful 500-metre women’s final. She caught a break when Dutch skater Jorien Ter Mors fell after her.
“It feels pretty surreal right now. I didn’t really dream about my first World Cup medal being that I fall and then by chance that someone else falls,” said Waddell. “I deserved to be in that A final. I worked my way there. It’s the 500, it’s short track and anything can happen. I’m really happy. It’s pretty exciting.”
Kexin Fan of China won gold and Arianna Fontana of Italy took the silver.
In the women’s relay, Canada originally finished third behind gold medallist China and South Korea.
However, the Canadian team of Waddell, Marianne St-Gelais of Saint-Felicien, Que., Marie-Eve Drolet of Laterriere, Que., and Jessica Hewitt of Kamloops, B.C., was bumped up to silver after South Korea was given a penalty.
Italy was awarded the bronze.
The Canadian men’s relay team of Hamelin, Guillaume Bastille of Riviere-du-Loup, Que., Charle Cournoyer of Boucherville, Que., and Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que., settled for an appearance in the B final. Canada won the race to finish fifth overall.
Wu Daijing led China’s 1-2 finish in the men’s 500. Russia’s Vladimir Grigorev was third and Vincent Cournoyer of Boucherville, Que., was fourth.
Park Seung-hi of South Korea won the women’s 1,000 and Elise Christie of Britain finished second. Shim Suk-Hee of South Korea was third and St-Gelais was seventh.
The last World Cup event of the short-track season begins Friday in Dresden, Germany.
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With files from The Associated Press.
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