Valérie Maltais from Quebec secures bronze in the 3,000-metre long track speed skating event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, marking Team Canada’s first medal of the competition.
Maltais, hailing from La Baie, delivered a strong performance clocking in at three minutes 56.93 seconds. The gold went to Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida, setting an Olympic record with a time of three minutes and 54.28 seconds, while Ragne Wiklund of Norway claimed the silver in three minutes and 56.54 seconds.
This achievement adds to Maltais’ impressive Olympic track record with this being her third medal in five Winter Games. She previously clinched silver in the 3,000-metre short track relay in 2014 and gold in the team pursuit event in 2022. Her stellar form coming into the Games was evident with recent successes, including a silver and two bronze medals in World Cup races this season.
Among other Canadian contenders, Isabelle Weidemann from Ottawa, a bronze medalist in Beijing four years ago, finished fifth with a time of three minutes and 59.24 seconds. Laura Hall from Salmon Arm, B.C., made her Olympic debut, finishing 13th out of 20 skaters with a time of four minutes and 6.13 seconds.
