Quebec Speed Skater Valérie Maltais Earns Olympic Bronze in 3000m Event
Canadian speed skater Valérie Maltais has captured a bronze medal in the women's 3000-meter long-track event at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The 35-year-old athlete from Saguenay, Quebec, delivered a powerful performance to secure her first individual Olympic medal, finishing with a time of 3:56.93.
Emotional Victory on the Olympic Stage
When her third-place finish was confirmed, Maltais broke down in tears of joy and relief. "I'm not here just to participate," Maltais had declared earlier in the week. "Every time I step onto the starting line, it's because I know I can win a medal." Her determination paid off spectacularly on Saturday in Milan.
The competition featured intense racing against formidable opponents:
- Francesca Lollobrigida of Italy thrilled the home crowd by winning gold in an Olympic-record time of 3:54.28
- Ragne Wiklund of Norway claimed silver with a time of 3:56.54
- Maltais secured the bronze position, putting Canada on the medal board at these Winter Games
Consistent Performance Throughout the Season
Maltais entered the Olympics with strong momentum, having reached the podium in four of her five World Cup starts at the 3000-meter distance this season. This consistency translated perfectly to the Olympic stage, where she demonstrated both technical skill and mental fortitude.
Versatile Career and Future Events
The Quebec athlete has already made Olympic history, becoming the first Canadian to win medals in both short-track and long-track speed skating when she earned gold in the team pursuit at the 2022 Beijing Games. Maltais will continue competing in Milan-Cortina with several more events on her schedule:
- The 1500-meter competition
- The mass start event
- The team pursuit, where she will defend her gold medal from Beijing
This bronze medal represents not just personal achievement for Maltais but also contributes to Canada's growing medal count at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Her performance demonstrates the strength of Quebec's athletic programs and Canada's continued excellence in winter sports.
