Will Dandjinou shined at the Short Track World Tour event in Montreal by clinching three speed skating medals on Sunday, bringing his total to five over the two-day competition, making him the standout performer for the Canadian team.
Dandjinou, hailing from Sherbrooke, Que., kicked off the day by securing gold in the 2,000-meter mixed relay alongside teammates Danaé Blais, Courtney Sarault, and Félix Roussel. They dominated the race, clocking in at two minutes and 37.599 seconds, holding off strong competition from South Korea and Poland.
Subsequently, Dandjinou led a Canadian one-two finish in the men’s 1,000 meters, crossing the line in 1:25.417 ahead of his compatriot Steven Dubois. In the same event, Hwang Daeheon from South Korea settled for the bronze medal.
In the final race of the tournament, Dandjinou played a pivotal role in guiding Canada to victory in the men’s 5,000 relay, partnering with Maxime Laoun, Dubois, and Roussel. The Canadian team posted a time of 6:57.743, outpacing the Netherlands and Italy.
After the weekend’s events, Team Canada accumulated a total of 10 medals, bringing their two-week tally to 17, including 10 gold, three silver, and four bronze medals. This impressive performance places Canada at the top of the standings for the Team Crystal Globe, with a substantial lead over the Korean White Tigers.
Dandjinou and Sarault also lead their respective Crystal Globe standings comfortably, with Dandjinou claiming victory in the men’s 500 and 1,500 events on Saturday.
Sarault, who demonstrated a strong performance on Saturday, secured her first podium finish in the women’s 500, finishing behind Dutch athlete Xandra Velzeboer and ahead of American Kristen Santos-Griswold.
The next stop in the Short Track World Tour will be in Gdansk, Poland, followed by Dordrecht, Netherlands, with Montreal hosting the world championships in March. Viewers can access the live streaming schedule for upcoming events.
