Canada's Valerie Maltais wins third medal of Milano Cortina Olympics
Valerie Maltais has had an Olympics to remember.
The 35-year-old speed skater entered the women’s 1500-metre long track speed skating event having already won two medals (one gold and one bronze) at these Olympics.
On Friday, Maltais temporarily took the lead with a stellar skate, posting a time of one minute and 54.50 seconds.
She then slid down to third when Netherland’s Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong and Norway’s Ragne Wiklund overtook her for first and second, respectively. Those two athletes wound up holding on for gold and silver.
In the final skate, even though Miho Takagi looked like she might knock Maltais off the podium, the Japanese speed skater slid down to sixth, allowing Maltais to hang on for bronze.
As the 35-year-old realized she had won yet another Olympic medal, she was seen jumping up and down for joy on the broadcast.
Wholesome moment between Canada's Valerie Maltais and Norway's Ragne Widlund when they realized they just won Olympic medals in the women's 1500-metre speed skating event.
š„¹š pic.twitter.com/EyPC9QQwAg
— Trevor Beggs (@TrevBeggs) February 20, 2026
The Saguenay, Que., native now has five career Olympic medals. She won silver during the 2014 Sochi Olympics in the short-track speed skating 3000-metre relay. Maltais then won gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in the Team Pursuit event.
With this likely being her last Olympic Games, Maltais will now go down as one of the most decorated speed skaters in Canadian history.
Her five total medals are one shy of the Canadian record at the Winter Olympics. The record of six career medals is shared by speed skaters Charles Hamelin and Cindy Klassen.
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She’ll have a chance to tie the Canadian record on Saturday, Feb. 20, during the women’s mass start speed skating event.