Canadian St-Gelais wins World Cup gold

Canadian speedskater Marianne St-Gelais capped her weekend at a short-track World Cup event with two medals on Sunday, including gold in the women’s 500-metre final.

St-Gelais of Saint-Felicien, Que., who also won gold in the women’s 1,000 on Saturday, led Sunday’s 500-metre race from start to finish, crossing the line in 42.963 seconds.

Ye Jin Kim of South Korea was second while Jamie Macdonald of Fort St. James, B.C., placed third. Kassandra Bradette, also of Saint-Felicien, was fourth.

St-Gelais earned her second medal of the day by helping Canada’s 3,000-metre relay team to bronze. The Dutch led from start to finish for gold and Italy took silver.

“I’m satisfied with how my weekend went,” St-Gelais said. “Today, I had a great 500. I thought a lot about the technical points that will help me keep my position and keep my focus level up, so that I can keep going though round after round. I was able to maintain a very high level of concentration in both events this weekend, technically and tactically, and it paid off.”

“I’m confident looking towards the World Championships, but I realize that some of the top skaters weren’t here this weekend. Still, in terms of my technical points, this weekend’s results have boosted my confidence level.”

In the women’s 1,500, Valerie Maltais of Saguenay, Que., won bronze — her second in as many days — while Kim Boutin of Sherbrooke, Que., placed fifth in a race won by Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands. Maltais also won bronze in Saturday’s 1,000.

Charles Hamelin of SainteJulie, Que., who won gold Saturday in the men’s 1,500, finished fourth in the 500.