The Canadian short track speed skating team dominated the first day of the second World Tour stop in Montreal, clinching four gold medals. Local favorite William Dandjinou shone with two individual victories, winning the men’s 500 meters in 41.126 seconds after Dutch competitor Jens Van’T Wout was disqualified for a false start. Dandjinou also secured gold in the 1,500 meters with a time of 2:13.217.
Félix Roussel initially finished second in the 1,500 meters but was penalized for an inside pass, promoting Steven Dubois to third place. Dandjinou expressed pride in the crowd and the event’s atmosphere, stating it was a perfect day.
Courtney Sarault continued her winning streak by claiming gold in the women’s 1,000 meters, clocking a time of 1:27.896. She later contributed to Canada’s victory in the women’s 3,000 meters relay with teammates Kim Boutin, Danaé Blais, and Florence Brunelle.
The Canadian Ice Maples finished first in the relay, crossing the line in 4:07.341. Sarault’s strong performance in the final exchange led Canada to the top spot. The team redeemed themselves after a disappointing bronze medal the previous weekend.
Poland will host the next World Tour stop from November 20-23, followed by the Netherlands from November 27-30. The World Championships are set to take place in Montreal in March, shortly after the Olympics. A live streaming schedule is available on CBC’s website.
