Dubreuil collects long track silver for Canada’s 5th medal at World Cup season opener | CBC Sports

One of the most dominant sprinters on the international speed skating scene is making an impact early in the 2021-22 long track campaign.

Laurent Dubreuil of Lévis, Que., won his second 500-metre medal in three days with silver in Sunday’s men’s competition at the season-opening World Cup in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland.

On Friday, the 29-year-old picked up bronze after twice reaching the podium, including a gold medal performance, in February at the world championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

“My goal on Sunday will be to let myself give a bit more effort and skate more relaxed,” Dubreuil told reporters on Friday.

WATCH | Dubreuil skates to bronze in men’s 500 metres on Friday:

Laurent Dubreuil takes 500m bronze at World Cup event

The Canadian speed skater finished third at the World Cup stop in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland. 1:15

He crossed the finish line in 34.734 seconds in Sunday’s competition won by Tatsuya Shinhama in 34.699, while Japanese teammate Wataru Morishige collected bronze (34.746).

Fellow Canadians Gilmore Junio (35.278) and Alex Boisvert-Lacroix (35.565) placed 18th and 20th, respectively.

Canada has earned five medals at the event, with Ottawa’s Isabelle Weidemann and Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen winning silver in the 3,000 and 5,000, while Valérie Maltais, Ivanie Blondin and Weidemann topped the podium in team pursuit.

There are four World Cup stops that will help shape the Canadian squad for the Beijing Olympics in February, including Calgary on Dec. 9.

The World Cup season concludes March 12 in Heerenveen.

WATCH | Canada wins World Cup gold in team pursuit: