A group of female Canadian speed skaters participated in their Olympic debut in the 1,000 meters event on Monday, with Béatrice Lamarche finishing in fifth place. Lamarche clocked a time of 1 minute 14.73 seconds, outpacing Japan’s Rio Yamada. She progressed from sixth place at the 200-meter mark to second at 600 meters before settling for third place before the final pair’s race.
Describing Lamarche’s performance, CBC Sports analyst Anastasia Bucsis praised her composure and focus, highlighting her ability to handle pressure effectively. Lamarche’s fifth-place finish marked Canada’s strongest showing in the event since the 2010 Vancouver Games, where Christine Nesbitt clinched gold and Kristina Groves finished fourth.
In the same event, Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands secured the gold medal in a record-breaking time of 1:12.31, surpassing her teammate Femke Kok, who claimed the silver. Miho Takagi of Japan took the bronze medal, while Brittany Bowe of the United States finished fourth. Leerdam expressed her elation at winning the gold, considering it a significant achievement in her career.
Bucsis praised Leerdam’s performance, emphasizing her status as a prominent figure in speed skating. Leerdam, who had previously won Olympic silver, showcased her talent by winning three out of four World Cup 1,000m races during the season.
Carolina Hiller-Donnelly from Prince George, B.C., and Rose Laliberté-Roy from Sainte-Étienne-de-Lauzon, Que., finished 26th and 27th, respectively, in the event. Bucsis commended Hiller-Donnelly for her impressive Olympic debut and expressed anticipation for her performance in the upcoming 500-meter final.
Lamarche, who will also compete in the women’s 500m and 1,500m events on February 20 alongside teammate Valérie Maltais, had a successful start to the season, winning bronze at the World Cup opener in Salt Lake City. Her progress is attributed to mental preparation, as she overcame anxiety and comparison with competitors by focusing on her own performance.
The Milan-Cortina Winter Games have witnessed three speed skating events so far, with three Olympic records broken in the temporary arena. Despite narrowly missing out on the gold, Kok respected Leerdam’s achievement and acknowledged her opponent’s superior performance.