Canada wins bronze in women’s speedskating at Beijing Olympics, 1st of 2022 Games

Canada’s Isabelle Weidemann won the bronze medal in the women’s 3,000-metre speedskating race at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Saturday.

The win gives Canada its first medal of the 2022 Games. It also marks the first for Canada in this event since the 2010 Games in Vancouver.

Irene Schouten of the Netherlands and Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida took the gold and silver medals, respectively. Schouten also broke the Olympic record for the event.

Weidemann trailed Norway’s Ragne Wiklund through the middle of her heat, at one point lagging a full minute behind.

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But she quickly made up ground to overcome the fastest time up to that point, putting her in the top spot and guaranteeing her a place on the podium.

Schouten and Lollobrigida, who ran the final heat of the event right after Weidemann’s, proved to be even quicker.

Valerie Maltais and Ivanie Blondin, also racing for Canada, finished in 12th and 14th, respectively.

2:07 Festivities and concern as 2022 Beijing Winter Games kick off