Ivanie Blondin grabs 2 speed skating medals for Canada at Four Continents

Ivanie Blondin helped Canada to a team sprint gold medal before picking up an individual bronze Friday as the season-opening ISU Four Continents speed skating championships opened in Hachinohe, Japan.

Ottawa’s Blondin combined with Carolina Hiller of Prince George, B.C., and Beatrice Lamarche of Quebec City to win the women’s team sprint in a track record time of one minute 27.87 seconds.

Lamarche used the slingshot technique to launch Blondin into the final lap, which helped the trio maintain their speed. While the move worked, Lamarche said it could be improved.

“The slingshot move felt better yesterday in practice, but it was not at high speed. Maybe we looked smooth, but I personally felt weird and rushed throughout the entire process,” Lamarche said. “I’m excited to try it again during the World Cup in China because I think it can be better.”

South Korea was 1.39 seconds off the pace for silver, while Kazakhstan was 2.49 seconds back of the winners to take bronze.

WATCH | Blondin helps Canadian women to team sprint gold medal:

Team Canada wins the women’s team sprints at the ISU Four Continents

Carolina Hiller, Beatrice Lamarche and Ivanie Blondin won the team sprint women’s competition on day 1 of the ISU Four Continents Speed Skating Championships taking place in Hachinoe Japan.

Later, the 34-year-old Blondin took bronze in the women’s 1,500 metres with a time of 1:57.99.

“I feel pretty good about my 1,500,” Blondin said. “I was not able to warm down following the team sprint as we went straight to the medal ceremony. By the time that was over I had to put my skin suit on and get back on the ice.

“I didn’t have the pop that I normally would, but midway through the race I realized things were going well and my legs were actually feeling pretty decent,” Blondin added. “I was happy with the end time.”

WATCH | Blondin’s legs felt ‘decent’ in 1,500-metre performance:

Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin finishes 3rd in women’s 1,500m in Japan

Ivanie Blondin won her second medal of the day with a bronze in the women’s 1,500m race on Day 1 of the ISU Four Continents Speed Skating Championships in Hachinohe, Japan

Japan’s Miho Takagi (1:54.86) and China’s Mei Han (1:56.53) took gold and silver, respectively.

Canada reached the podium for a third time as Anders Johnson of Burnaby, B.C., Laurent Dubreuil of Levis, Que., and Yankun Zhao of Calgary, Alta., finished third in the men’s team sprint.

WATCH | Canada’s men collect team sprint bronze in Japan:

Team Canada finishes 3rd in the men’s team sprints at the ISU Four Continents Championships

Anders Johnson, Laurent Dubreuil and Yankun Zhao take third place in the team sprint men’s event at the ISU Four Continents Speedskating Championships taking place in Hachinoe Japan.

The United States (1:19.43) and China (1:19.78) finished ahead of Canada, the defending world champion and world record holder in the discipline.

“I think it was a good race for us,” Johnson said. “It was a new setup for our team today and we executed well and skated well. We’re happy with the result and excited to see what comes in the future.”

The championships continue Saturday with Blondin, Dubreuil, Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen, Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., and Ottawa’s Isabelle Weidemann looking to add to Canada’s medal total.

WATCH | Full replay coverage of speed skating action from Hachinohe: