Valérie Maltais: First Medal for Canada at Milano Cortina 2026

Valérie Maltais secured Team Canada’s first medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on Saturday, February 7th. The Canadian speed skater claimed bronze in the women’s 3000m event at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium with a time of 3:56.93.

A Hard-Fought Bronze

The race saw Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida set an Olympic record time of 3:54.28 to win gold. Ragne Wiklund of Norway took silver with a time of 3:56.54, narrowly edging out Maltais. Maltais’ time equaled the previous Olympic record set at Beijing 2022.

A History of Excellence

This marks Maltais’ first individual Olympic medal. She previously won gold in the women’s team pursuit at Beijing 2022 alongside Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin. Prior to that, she earned a silver medal in the women’s 3000m relay in short track speed skating at Sochi 2014.

Did You Know? Valérie Maltais is the first Canadian speed skater to win Olympic medals in both long track and short track speed skating.

Canada now has five Olympic medals in the women’s 3000m event. All previous four medals were bronze, earned by Cindy Klassen (Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006), Kristina Groves (Vancouver 2010), and Isabelle Weidemann (Beijing 2022).

Looking Ahead

Isabelle Weidemann, also representing Canada, finished fifth in Saturday’s race with a time of 3:59.24. Further competitions at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games could see both Maltais and Weidemann contend for additional medals, depending on their event schedules and performance. The coming days may reveal whether this early success will build momentum for the Canadian team.

Expert Insight: Securing the first medal of the Games often provides a psychological boost for a nation’s athletes, potentially influencing performance across multiple disciplines. This early success for Canada could set a positive tone for the remainder of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What medal did Valérie Maltais win?

Valérie Maltais won a bronze medal in the women’s 3000m speed skating event.

Where were the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games held?

The women’s 3000m speed skating event was held at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.

Has Valérie Maltais won an Olympic medal before?

Yes, Valérie Maltais won gold in the women’s team pursuit at Beijing 2022 and a silver medal in the women’s 3000m relay in short track speed skating at Sochi 2014.

What impact might this early medal have on the rest of Team Canada’s performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games?