Canadian short track speed skater Will Dandjinou showcased his dominance at the men’s World Tour circuit in Gdansk, Poland. The Montreal skater clinched victory in both the men’s 1,500 and 500 meter finals, leading the Canadian Ice Maples to secure four medals at the Hala Olivia Arena. Dandjinou’s teammates Courtney Sarault and Steven Dubois also performed well, earning silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In the men’s 1,500m final, 24-year-old Dandjinou finished first with a time of 2 minutes and 24.153 seconds, surpassing Italians Thomas Nadalini and Pietro Sighel. Dubois, hailing from Terrebonne, Que., crossed the line in sixth place in the same final with a time of 2:24.834.
Reflecting on his performance, Dandjinou expressed satisfaction, stating, “It feels great. It’s always hard to predict how things will unfold, and I believe I’ve been performing exceptionally this season. Adapting to challenging ice conditions and delivering consistent results is always rewarding.”
Not faltering in the men’s 500m final, Dandjinou continued his winning streak by securing gold with a time of 40.849 seconds. Xiaojun Lin of China took silver, while Dubois claimed the bronze medal with a time of 41.505.
Dandjinou highlighted the significance of team chemistry, especially with Dubois on the podium, emphasizing the collective effort to secure multiple positions. With these victories, Dandjinou has now accumulated five gold medals this season, solidifying his lead in the overall standings with 642 points.
Sarault also made her mark by clinching silver in the women’s 1,000m final, with Hanna Desmet of Belgium securing gold. Sarault’s performance propelled her to the top of the overall standings with 570 points, showcasing her prowess in the competition.
The Gdansk event will continue with live coverage on Sunday at 8:05 a.m. ET, available for streaming on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. Stay tuned for more exciting short track events this season.