Canada’s Blondin wins third medal of World Cup season, a silver in mass start

NAGANO, Japan — Canada’s Ivanie Blondin raced to silver in the women’s mass start event Sunday for her third medal of the World Cup long-track speedskating season.

Blondin, from Ottawa, roared back from a virus that had forced her to withdraw from the 1,000 and 3,000-metre races held earlier in the week, crossing second behind South Korea’s Bo-Reum Kim. Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida was third. 

“A podium is a podium and I’m really happy about the silver,” said Blondin who won gold in the mass start and silver in the 3000 last week in Harbin, China. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it today because of how sick I’ve been all week.”

“The whole race was a bit of a gong show and I made some mistakes,” added Blondin, who was fifth with one lap remaining. “Bo-Reum had an amazing sprint, she did well and just beat me today. But considering how I was feeling, I’m pretty happy.”

Jordan Belchos of Toronto was 10th in the men’s mass start, while Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que., was 13th.

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Marsha Hudey of White City, Sask., raced to fourth in the women’s 500, the third time this season she’s missed the podium by one spot.

The Canadian Press