Ottawa’s Blondin wins second World Cup mass start gold of the season
ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin won gold in the women’s mass start Sunday at an ISU World Cup long-track speedskating event.
Blondin won the race ahead of Japan’s Nana Takagi, whom she came in contact with in the last straight leading to the finish line. South Korea’s Bo-Reum Kim collected bronze.
This is Blondin’s second win in three Worlds Cups this season in this event which will make its Olympic debut at the 2018 Games.
“I was able to find my way between the two Dutch skaters and place myself in good position for the last stretch,” Blondin said. “Things were sketchy at the end, but I was able to defend my spot well, I was aggressive, I did what I had to do to win today’s race.”