Canada’s Maltais earns bronze at speedskating World Cup in last race before Olympics

By Canadian Press on January 24, 2026.

INZELL — Canada’s Valerie Maltais earned bronze in the women’s 3,000 metres at a speedskating World Cup on Saturday in her final race before the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Maltais, from La Baie, Que., finished in three minutes 59.92 seconds in the last long-distance race of the season.

Norway’s Ragne Wiklund of Norway crossed the finish line in 3:54.74, setting a new personal best and new track record at the Max Aicher Arena to grab gold.

Joy Beune of the Netherlands earned silver (3:56.96).

Wiklund was in a class of her own atop the World Cup rankings with 270 points across five long distance races.

Ottawa’s Isabelle Weidemann was second with 227 points, thanks to a pair of silver medals.

The third and final spot on the overall podium went to Beune, who was tied with Maltais with 222 points but got the upper hand thanks to two victories and four podium results.

The final speedskating World Cup event of the season concludes Sunday, where medals and World Cup titles will be awarded in the men’s and women’s 500 metres, Mass Start and Team Sprint.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2026.

The Canadian Press