Canadian speed skater Dubreuil claims 500m bronze, Stolz sets track record at World Cup in Milwaukee
Dubreuil is 1st Canadian to reach the podium at Pettit National Ice Center since 2005
Canadian speed skater Laurent Dubreuil claimed bronze in the men's 500 metres at a World Cup event on Saturday in Milwaukee.
Dubreuil became the first Canadian in nearly 20 years to reach the podium at the historic Pettit National Ice Center.
American star Jordan Stolz set a new track record of 33.91 seconds to capture gold, while Jenning De Boo of the Netherlands took silver (34.28). Dubreuil posted a time of 34.36 seconds.
WATCH | Stolz sets 500m track record:
The 20-year-old Stolz, who is from Kewaskum, Wis., also won the 1,500m later Saturday for his 23rd consecutive World Cup victory across the 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m.
Dubreuil, a 32-year-old from Levis, Que., earned his second 500m medal of the World Cup season after winning silver in the opening race of the campaign in Nagano, Japan.
WATCH | Dubreuil earns 500m bronze:
"I am really happy to be back on the podium two months after my last medal in Nagano. Last week in Calgary, I was quite unhappy with my execution, but I was still close to the podium. Today, I told myself I just wanted to have a good race. I wanted to build up speed on the outside and skate well," said Dubreuil.
" ... A third-place finish with a time of 34.3 is still pretty good. I might have been able to beat De Boo today with a perfect race, but Stolz was absolutely unbeatable, so reaching the podium was all I could ask for."
Dubreuil became the first Canadian to medal at the venue since Jeremy Wotherspoon in 2005.
In other results, Ottawa's Ivanie Blondin placed seventh in the women's 1,500m and Connor Howe of Canmore, Alta., finished seventh in the men's 1,500m.
WATCH l Stolz remains undefeated this season with 1,500m gold:
With files from Speed Skating Canada