No Canadian Women Reach 1500m Short Track Speed Skating Final

Bassyonni

Published: February 20, 2026 4:44 PM ET

The recent Olympic competition in Milan-Cortina was a challenging day for the Canadian short track speed skating team, particularly in the women’s 1500m event.

No Canadian Women Reach 1500m Short Track Speed Skating Final

The hopes of Canadian athletes were dashed as all competitors in the women’s 1500m short track speed skating semifinals faced early elimination. This disappointing outcome further highlighted Canada’s struggles to meet its goal of winning seven Olympic medals.

Men’s Relay Performance

The men’s relay team, comprising Félix Roussel, William Dandjinou, Steven Dubois, and Maxime Laoun, finished just shy of the podium in the 5000m relay. Initially, they were well-placed at the front of the race. However, they fell behind during the middle laps and were unable to regain their momentum, missing out on a medal. The Netherlands captured gold, South Korea took silver, and Italy won the bronze.

Women’s 1500m Semifinals

For the women, Courtney Sarault was anticipated to qualify for the finals until an unfortunate incident occurred. During her race, her skate struck a crack in the ice, causing her to fall and ending her chances for a medal. Only one competitor in her semifinal, China’s Yang Jingru, successfully completed the race after the incident.

Courtney Sarault: Finished 9th overall.
Danaé Blais: Finished 14th overall.
Kim Boutin: Unable to advance to the B Final.

Earlier in the competition, both Kim Boutin and Danaé Blais were eliminated without any mishaps. Blais started strong but was ultimately pushed back to fourth place, while Boutin, who struggled throughout the race, ended in fifth, which likely concludes her Olympic career.

Implications for Canadian Team

This performance marks a significant setback for the Canadian team, which concluded the competition with only five podium finishes, falling short of their record of six medals. As the Olympic events progress, the focus will shift to future competitions and rebuilding the team’s strength.