Sisi Chan

Canada’s Steven Dubois wins short-track gold

Steven Dubois, the dynamic Canadian speed skater, triumphed by winning the gold medal in the men’s 500-metre race at the Milan Cortina Games. Dubois holds an impressive Olympic status, having previously clinched medals in various categories.

This victory marked the first individual gold medal for the four-time Olympic medallist, who won bronze in men’s 500-metre race and silver in men’s 1,500 metres at the 2022 Beijing Games. At the Milan Cortina Games, Dubois had already secured gold in the men’s 5,000-metre relay and silver in the mixed relay.

Dubois implemented a careful race strategy, bolstered by calculated risks that propelled him towards his gold medal victory. His fellow competitors, Melle van ‘t Wout and Jens van ‘t Wout from the Netherlands, secured the silver and bronze medals respectively.

On his 26th birthday, Melle van ‘t Wout made his mark by securing his first medal in the men’s individual events. Meanwhile, his brother, Jens van ‘t Wout, not only supported him but also stood as a challenging competitor for Dubois.

The race also saw participation from Montreal’s William Dandjinou and Maxime Laoun. Unfortunately, Dandjinou faced a penalty, and Laoun fell during the race, which led him to compete in the B final and secured the eighth position.

The triumph of Dubois added to Canada’s medal tally, marking it as the 14th medal and the fourth gold for the country at the Games. The Games will continues with further events such as the men’s 5,000-metre relay and women’s 1,500 metres.