Canada's Laurent Dubreuil celebrates after winning the men's 500 metre race at the World Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands, on Feb. 12, 2021.Peter Dejong/The Associated Press
Canadian speedskater Laurent Dubreuil won a world championship in the men’s 500 metres Friday.
The 28-year-old from Levis, Que., was the Canadian first to take that sprint title since Jeremy Wotherspoon in 2008.
Dubreuil posted a winning time of 34.398 seconds at Thialf arena.
Russia’s Pavel Kulizhnikov was second in 34.540 and Dai Dai N’tab of the Netherlands third in 34.628.
Canada also picked up a pair of silver medals in team pursuit.
Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Wiedemann and Valerie Maltais of La Baie, Que., were second in women’s team pursuit.
Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen, Toronto’s Jordan Belchos and Connor Howe of Canmore, Alta., placed second in the men’s event.