PyeongChang – One Year Out! (Long Track Speed Skating)
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Venue: Gangneung Oval
Competition Dates: February 10-16, 18-19, 21, 23-24
Events: 14 (7 men, 7 women)
New: Mass Start event
Current athletes: Long-Track | Speed Skating Canada
Canadian Olympic Team: Olympic.ca
Manitobans to watch: Heather McLean
February 9, 2017 – At the last two winter Olympic Games, Canadian short track speed skaters have impressed the nation. Canada’s long track speed skaters, however, haven’t been dominant at an Olympic level since the days of Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen, but in 2018 that might change. Many of Canada’s emerging elite speed skaters are long track specialists.
24-year-old long track speed skater Heather McLean recently became Canada’s back-to-back champion in both the 500m and 1000m distances. The Winnipegger has made a huge amount of progress in the last few years, and made a serious mark on the World Cup circuit last season by winning four medals – three of them individual medals in the 500m. Heather entered her 2016-2017 season ranked sixth in the world in the 500m distance, and just last month set two new personal bests at the Canadian Single Distance Championships.
This weekend, Heather will be competing at the ISU World Single Distance Championships, speed skating’s biggest event of the year. The WSD Championships take place at the Gangneung Olympic Oval, and will act as the official test event for next year’s PyeongChang Olympic Games. Heather will compete in the 500m and 1000m distances – click here for her competition info.
As one of Canada’s best long track speed skaters, Heather looks to be a serious contender at next year’s Olympic Games.
Other Canadians to watch: Ted Jan-Bloemen, Denny Morrison, Ivanie Blondin.
Did you know?
Heather McLean is a graduate of Vincent Massey’s Sports & Arts Program!
