Béatrice Lamarche: 7th in 500m, Eyes Next Olympics | Speed Skating 2026

Canadian Speed Skater Béatrice Lamarche Continues Strong Olympic Showing

Milan, Italy – Béatrice Lamarche is considering committing to another Olympic cycle after a strong performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The Quebec speed skater finished seventh in the women’s 500m long track event on Sunday, building on her fifth-place finish in the 1000m earlier in the week, her specialty.

Lamarche’s performance at the Milan Skating Oval demonstrates a continued upward trajectory for the Canadian athlete. According to reports, she exceeded expectations with her seventh-place finish in the 500m.

The 2026 Winter Olympics have already seen success for the Canadian team. Mikaël Kingsbury secured Canada’s first gold medal of the Games in the men’s dual moguls event on Sunday, a fitting end to his Olympic career. The Canadian men’s hockey team also had a dominant showing, defeating France 10-2 to finish atop their group and earn the No. 1 seed in the Olympic tournament. Canada’s men’s curling team, led by Brad Jacobs, returned to the win column with a victory over China.

However, the Games haven’t been without disappointment for the Canadian contingent. Pairs skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps suffered a fall that likely dashed their hopes for a medal. Fellow Canadian pair, Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, delivered a season’s best short program skate, potentially offering a glimmer of hope for a podium finish in that discipline.

Elsewhere in speed skating, Ted-Jan Bloemen, a veteran of the Canadian team, finished ninth in the men’s 10,000m on Friday, marking the final race of his Olympic career. The 39-year-old completed the 25 laps in 13:00.01. Bloemen previously won gold in the same event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, setting a then-Games record of 12:39.77.

Bloemen expressed emotional reflection after the race, stating, “I guess it’s the end,” and adding, “It hasn’t sunk in yet.” He also emphasized his determination throughout the competition, saying, “I wasn’t able to skate the pace that was needed for a medal… but I never [showed] a moment of weakness. I hope everybody saw that I gave it everything that I had every lap.”

The speed skating schedule at the 2026 Winter Olympics began on February 7th and is scheduled to conclude on February 21st. Short track speed skating events commenced on February 10th and will continue through February 20th. Erin Jackson of Team USA is competing to defend her gold medal in the 500m, won at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and is also entered in the 1,000m race. A win in both events would make her the first Olympic speed skater to win multiple medals at a single Winter Games in two decades.

The Canadian long track speed skating team was announced prior to the start of the Games, signaling the nation’s commitment to the sport. The team’s performance thus far, highlighted by Lamarche’s strong showing, suggests a promising future for Canadian speed skating.