Danaé Blais and Canadian Short Track Team Face Challenges at Milan-Cortina

The Canadian short track team experienced a mixed bag of results at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, falling short of their ambitious goal of seven medals. While some athletes shone, others faced heartbreaking setbacks, including Danaé Blais and Courtney Sarault.

Men’s 5000m Relay: A Fourth-Place Finish

The Canadian men’s 5000m relay team narrowly missed out on a podium finish, ending in fourth place. Félix Roussel, William Dandjinou, Steven Dubois, and Maxime Laoun initially led the pack but lost momentum mid-race and couldn’t recover. Despite a strong push from William Dandjinou in the final lap, the gap was too significant. The Netherlands, South Korea, and Italy secured gold, silver, and bronze, respectively.

Courtney Sarault’s Crushing Disappointment

A devastating incident marred Courtney Sarault’s 1500m semi-final. A crack in the ice caused her to fall, ending her hopes of qualifying for the final and potentially adding to Canada’s medal count. This wasn’t an isolated incident, as other skaters also struggled with the compromised ice surface. Had it not been for the ice crack, Sarault was on track for a potential fifth medal at these Games.

Danaé Blais and Kim Boutin Eliminated

Prior to Sarault’s misfortune, fellow Quebec skaters Kim Boutin and Danaé Blais had already been eliminated from contention for a medal in the 1500m final. Blais, despite a strong showing in third position, was relegated to fourth place. Boutin, starting from the back of the pack, attempted a comeback but ultimately finished fifth.

Boutin’s Olympic Journey Potentially Over

Kim Boutin’s failure to reach the B final suggests her Olympic career may have come to an end. Courtney Sarault finished ninth, and Danaé Blais finished fourteenth overall.

Qualifying Rounds and Repêchage

Courtney Sarault easily qualified for the semi-final by winning her quarter-final heat, while Boutin secured second place in hers. Danaé Blais initially finished fourth in her heat but was repêchaged into the semi-finals based on her time.

Other Canadian Olympic Highlights

Elsewhere at the Milan-Cortina Games, Brendan Mackay secured a bronze medal in the men’s halfpipe, demonstrating impressive skill in his final run. The Canadian men’s hockey team advanced to the final after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Finland, while Rachel Homan and her curling team will compete for bronze. The Games have also seen protests from Ukrainian and Czech athletes regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. La Presse provides ongoing coverage of the events.

Stay tuned for further updates on the Canadian team’s performance at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics!