Canadian Speedskater Beatrice Lamarche Claims Fifth in Olympic 1,000m Race
Beatrice Lamarche showcased her talent in her Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. The Quebec City speedskater finished fifth in the women’s 1,000 meters event.
Performance Highlights
Lamarche skated her race in the second-last pair and initially secured a third-place position. However, Jutta Leerdam from the Netherlands dominated the final pair, claiming gold and setting an Olympic record with a time of 1 minute 12.31 seconds. Femke Kok, also from the Netherlands, took silver, while Japan’s Miho Takagi secured the bronze medal.
Race Results
- Gold: Jutta Leerdam (Netherlands) – 1:12.31
- Silver: Femke Kok (Netherlands)
- Bronze: Miho Takagi (Japan)
- 5th: Beatrice Lamarche (Canada) – 0.78 seconds behind Takagi
Season Performance
Lamarche distinguished herself throughout the season, consistently ranking in the top ten in all five World Cup 1,000-meter races. Notably, she achieved a personal best by finishing third at the season opener in Salt Lake City.
Family Legacy
The 27-year-old’s passion for speedskating runs in the family. Her father, Benoit Lamarche, represented Canada at the Olympics, competing in speedskating events in Sarajevo in 1984 and Calgary in 1988.
Team Dynamics
In a showing of Canadian success, Lamarche’s roommate in Milan, Valerie Maltais, earned Canada’s first medal at the 2026 Olympics, claiming bronze in the women’s 3,000 meters event.
With a bright future ahead, Beatrice Lamarche has made her mark on the Olympic stage and continues to be a strong contender in speedskating.
