The countdown to the 2026 Winter Olympics in northern Italy is ticking, with a significant event on the horizon in Canada this weekend. The short track speed skating World Tour kicks off at Montreal’s Maurice Richard Arena, marking the start of the journey towards the Games.
The World Tour, previously known as the World Cup, is a global competition series for elite short track skaters worldwide. This season, the tour has been condensed to four stops instead of the usual six to accommodate the Olympics. Montreal will host the first two events, followed by Poland and the Netherlands. Additionally, the world championships are slated for March in Montreal, shortly after the Olympics.
During the World Tour meets, the first two days are dedicated to qualifying for the medal rounds, which are set for Saturday and Sunday. Athletes compete in three individual distances for both men and women (500m, 1,000m, 1,500m) and three relays (men’s 5,000m, women’s 3,000m, and mixed 2,000m). Points earned throughout the season culminate in the awarding of the Crystal Globe trophy to the top skater in each distance and the overall champion. The country with the most points also secures the team Crystal Globe.
This year’s World Tour is crucial as it will determine the number of entries each country receives for the upcoming Olympics and the athletes who will fill those spots. At the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, Canadian short track skaters clinched four medals, trailing behind South Korea while tying with China, the Netherlands, and Italy. With the current dominance of Canada in short track speed skating, there is optimism for surpassing the national record of six medals from the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.
Canada’s prowess in short track speed skating was evident last season when Canadian skaters amassed 37 World Tour medals, including 21 golds, across the six stops. This performance secured the team Crystal Globe for Canada, nicknamed the Ice Maples, outpacing the Dutch Lions and Italy’s Gladiators. The season concluded with Canadians winning six out of nine events at the world championships in Beijing, including a sweep of the men’s gold medals.
Among the standout Canadian skaters was Steven Dubois, who clinched four gold medals and Will Dandjinou, who emerged as a top performer. Dandjinou, known for his strategic prowess and athleticism, claimed eight individual race victories on the World Tour and secured his first overall Crystal Globe. After missing out on the 2022 Olympics, Dandjinou is poised to shine in the upcoming Winter Games in Italy.
