Canadian men’s relay team rallies to win gold at short track World Cup event

BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Canadian men’s relay team came back to win gold on Sunday at a short track speed skating World Cup event.

It was one of three medals for Canada on the day as the women’s relay team took silver and Kim Boutin added another silver medal in the 1,000 metres.

The Canadian men lost pace with 25 laps to go after Pascal Dion’s skate came into contact with a South Korean athlete.

But Charles Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Que., Samuel Girard of Ferland-et-Boilleau, Que., Charle Cournoyer  of Boucherville, Que., and Dion of Montreal rallied from third place to take top spot with six laps to go.

Canada ended up beating China at the finish line by only five thousandths of a second. Japan collected bronze.

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“We maintained pretty much the same pace throughout and we took advantage of the fact that the teams ahead were out of gas,” said Cournoyer. “It was a very good performance. It’s great to see that the work we put in over the last few years is paying off.”

The Canadians won gold in the men’s relay for the first time since November 2015 in Toronto.

The women’s relay team of Marianne St-Gelais of Saint-Felicien, Que., Valerie Maltais of Saguenay, Que., Jamie Macdonald of Fort St. James, B.C., and Kasandra Bradette, also of Saint-Felicien, couldn’t catch South Korea, which won gold. Russia finished with bronze.

Boutin from Sherbrooke, Que., also captured silver in the 1,500 on Saturday. Choi Min Jeong from South Korea won gold in the 1,000 and Britain’s Elise Christie was third.

The Canadian Press