Courtney Sarault Wins Bronze in 500m Short Track Speed Skating
In a thrilling finale for the women’s 500 meters short track speed skating, Canadian Courtney Sarault clinched the bronze medal in Milan on Thursday night. This event turned into a sprint reminiscent of a Formula 1 race. Sarault’s performance marked her second medal of the week.
Courtney Sarault’s Bronze Medal Achievement
During the race, Xandra Velzeboer from the Netherlands set her third Olympic record of the night. Meanwhile, Italian skating legend Arianna Fontana won her 13th Olympic medal, further showcasing her remarkable career. Sarault finished just ahead of her Dutch competitor Selma Poutsma by six-tenths of a second.
Reaction from the Coach
The excitement was palpable as coach Marc Gagnon celebrated on the sidelines, raising his arms in triumph. This bronze adds to the growing medal tally for Canada in short track speed skating.
Performance of Other Canadian Skaters
- Kim Boutin, a Quebec native and double bronze medalist from Pyeongchang and Beijing, finished in 5th place.
- Boutin is vying for her sixth career Olympic medal, aiming to join other decorated athletes like Charles Hamelin and Cindy Klassen.
- Florence Brunelle did not advance to the final, finishing 4th in her semi-final heat and competing in the B final.
Brunelle faced tough competition but managed to finish 6th, after battling with American Kristen Santos-Griswold.
Quarterfinals and Semi-finals
In the quarterfinals, both Sarault and Brunelle took an early lead in their heats. They outpaced their competitors, including China’s Kexin Fan. Sarault clocked a time of 41.99 seconds, and Brunelle followed closely at 42.30 seconds.
Velzeboer set an Olympic record in the quarterfinals with an impressive time of 41.58 seconds, surpassing Fontana, who has now earned 12 Olympic medals.
Record-Breaking Runs
Notably, Velzeboer lowered her Olympic record less than 30 minutes later during the semi-finals, achieving a world record time of 41.399 seconds. Sarault, Boutin, and Brunelle maintained a solid position, trailing Korean skater Minjeong Choi for much of the race.
The final lap proved to be a showcase of Sarault’s speed, as she surged ahead to finish strong, securing her bronze medal and solidifying her place among the sport’s elite.
