A potential issue with the ice surface may have derailed Courtney Sarault’s bid for a record-tying fifth medal at the Milano Cortina Olympic Games. The Canadian short-track speed skater crashed in the semifinals of the women’s 1,500 metres on Friday, ending her pursuit of a place in the final and a chance to match the Canadian single-Games medal record.
Sarault, representing Moncton, New Brunswick, was in second position when she fell on a turn. The top two finishers in each semifinal advanced to the medal race. Notably, Dutch skater Xandra Velzeboer too experienced a fall on the same turn shortly after Sarault’s incident, prompting officials to create repairs to the ice surface following the heats.
An earlier crash occurred on a different part of the track during the same semifinal, adding to the unusual circumstances of the race. Velzeboer, who had already secured gold medals in the 500m and 1,000m events at these Games, did not advance.
Sarault will conclude her Olympic competition with a total of two silver medals – in the 1,000m and mixed relay – and two bronze medals, earned in the 500m and women’s 3,000m relay. She had entered the 1,500m semifinal as a medal contender.
The Canadian record for most medals won at a single Olympic Games is currently held by long-track speed skater Cindy Klassen, who captured five medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Sarault’s four medals place her among an exclusive group of Canadian Olympians, alongside Summer McIntosh and Penny Oleksiak, who both won four medals at their respective Summer Games.
Courtney Sarault was crowned the Crystal Globe winner for the 2025 Short Track World Tour, and as of February 2026, is ranked number one in the world in the women’s 1,000m short track distance. She previously won a national title in 2023, and again in 2025.
