Jordan Pierre-Gilles and William Dandjinou both reached the podium on Saturday at the Short Track Speed Skating World Cup in Beijing. Pierre-Gilles won the final of the first 500m of the weekend, while Dandjinou was third fastest in the 1500m.
Pierre-Gilles beat Frenchman Quentin Fercoq and Dutchman Jens van T’Wout. This is a second victory in a row at this distance for the Sherbrookois who also won on October 28, at the second Montreal stage of the World Cup.
“I definitely feel great after a result like that. […] This is what I hoped for. There is another 500m [Sunday], but I am giving myself the evening to enjoy the victory,” admitted the gold medalist, adding that he was not surprised to see China’s Liu Shaoang and Lin Xiaojun firmly contend for victory. In the end, it was the Quebecois who benefited.
With three laps to go, Lin Xiaojun attempted to overtake his compatriot on a straight line. The two collided, dragging Lin to the ground, and Pierre-Gilles was able to pass them on the outside to maintain the lead until the end.
“Personally, I expected it a little bit and I even told the coach so, so my strategy was adapted to that. The contact [between the Chinese] facilitated my overtaking and then it was settled. This is the best result I could have had! I am happy, proud and grateful to have this team around me who supports me. »
In the men’s 1500m final, William Dandjinou was beaten by Korea’s Kim Gun Woo and China’s Li Wenlong in a race where he believes he could have had a better result.
“I’m very happy with my day. I’m accumulating points for the crystal globe [given to the winner of the cumulative ranking, Editor’s note], I’ve had some great races, but my last one wasn’t up to what I’m capable of doing.” , confided the Canadian champion, who won his third individual World Cup medal of the season, his second in the 1500m.
“A small collision made me skid and stopped me in my tracks. Despite all that, I managed to get a bronze medal. I am proud of myself and I hope to do better tomorrow. »
Maxime Laoun won the B final of this distance, while Pascal Dion placed third in this race. The two skaters finished eighth and tenth in the cumulative rankings.
In the women’s 1500m, Claudia Gagnon won the B final, placing her eighth in the standings.
Elsewhere, the Canadian women’s and men’s relays secured their place in Sunday’s A finals. Danaé Blais, Florence Brunelle, Courtney Sarault and Renee Marie Steenge won their semi-final, as did William Dandjinou, Maxime Laoun, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Félix Roussel.
The conclusion of the Beijing Short Track Skating World Cup will be presented on Sunday.