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Valérie Maltais

Canada

SportShort Track
FederationIDSTCAN20407199001
NOCCanada
Born04 Jul 1990 in La Baie 
GenderWomen
OccupationAthlete, Student
LanguagesEnglish, French
Higher educationDietics - TELUQ University: Canada
FamilyPartner Jordan Belchos
ResidenceQuebec, QC, CAN
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 42.964 21 Oct 2012 Calgary  
    1000m 1:27.653 19 Oct 2012 Calgary  
    1500m 2:19.702 28 Sep 2013 Shanghai  
    3000m 4:52.082 16 Mar 2014 Montreal  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    3000m Relay   1    
World Championships
Event  
World Championships
    1000m     2  
    3000m Relay   4 3  
    Overall   1 1  
World Junior Championships
Event  
World Junior Championships
    2000m Relay     1  
    3000m Relay   1    
World Team Championships
Event  
World Team Championships
    Team   1    
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachGregor Jelonek [national], CAN  
When and where did you begin this sport?She took up short track in 1996 in Saguenay, QC, Canada. She competed in the sport for 22 years before switching to speed skating in 2018 in Calgary, AB, Canada.  
General Interest
General Interest
Awards and honoursIn 2022 an ice rink was named after her at the Jean-Claude Tremblay Sports Complex in La Baie, QC, Canada. (lanouvelliste.ca, 16 Jun 2022)

In 2012 and 2014 she was named Female Short Track Skater of the Year by Speed Skating Canada . (speedskating.ca, 01 Jan 2017)
 
Sporting philosophy / motto"Everything happens for a reason." (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)  
Most influential person in careerHer mother, and Dutch speed skater Remmelt Eldering. (Athlete, 13 Feb 2023)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/valemaltais2  
General Interest
General Interest
Other sportsShe represented Canada in short track at the Olympic Winter Games in 2010, 2014, and 2018, winning silver in the 3000m relay at the 2014 Games in Sochi. She has also competed in roller speed skating, finishing seventh in both the 10,000m points competition and the 500m sprint at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, ON, Canada. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 Mar 2019)  
NicknamesVale (olympic.ca, 05 Jun 2015)  
InjuriesIn August 2017 she had to withdraw from the Canadian trials for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games after suffering concussion in a fall during her 500m semifinal. (cbc.ca, 19 Aug 2017)

She was unable to train fully from the middle of 2016 to December that year due to adductor tendinitis and a hip problem. (olympic.ca, 20 Aug 2017)

She has experienced ankle problems since the beginning of her career. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2017)
 
Famous relativesHer partner Jordan Belchos has represented Canada in speed skating, and competed at the Olympic Winter Games in 2018 and 2022. He is also a roller speed skater and won bronze in the 10,000m points race at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, ON, Canada. (SportsDeskOnline, 14 Nov 2022; Instagram profile, 11 Oct 2021; journaldemontreal.com, 30 Aug 2017)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamCPV La Baie: Canada  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationSWITCHING SPORTS
In June 2018 she announced that she was changing from short track to speed skating. "I started out doing figure skating but I wasn't a dancer on ice, so I went into short track. Now I'm going to do long track. It's like I'm covering the whole Skating Union. I'm still in love with short track and I've seen the evolution of the sport. It is changing year after year, it is becoming bigger and that is very fun to see. But I've always wanted to try long track and now [2018] seems the appropriate time to move on. I'm still young and in good shape, which is the best time to try a new sport. I want to put 100% of my energy into it. It's something I feel I need to do, to make sure that I have no regrets in my career. When I moved to long track, team pursuit was the main event I wanted to be part of. I'd always done relay in short track and I love the team bonding." (plus.lapresse.ca, 21 Oct 2021; lequotidien.com, 05 Oct 2021; Facebook profile, 20 Feb 2021; thespec.com, 03 Mar 2020; isu.org, 05 Jun 2018)

FURTHER EDUCATION
She has studied for a multidisciplinary bachelor's degree in psychology, communication, philosophy, and human resources at Laval University in Canada. (Athlete, 13 Feb 2023; LinkedIn profile, 01 May 2022)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Training RegimeShe trains for 57 hours a week.  
Social Media
Social Media
valeriemaltais.ca/  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementWinning the short track women's 3000m relay with the Quebec team at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, YT, Canada. (Athlete, 13 Feb 2023)  
MilestonesAlongside Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin, she was part of the first Canadian team to win gold in women's team pursuit event at the Olympic Winter Games. The trio claimed victory at the 2022 Games in Beijing. (SportsDeskOnline, 16 Oct 2023; cbc.ca, 07 Dec 2022)

She is the first athlete representing Canada to have won Olympic medals in short track and speed skating. She claimed silver in the 3000m relay [short track] at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, and secured gold in team pursuit [speed skating] at the 2022 Games in Beijing. (SportsDeskOnline, 11 Nov 2022; olympic.ca, 15 Feb 2022)
 
HobbiesCycling, painting her Canadian national teammates' nails, making coffee, yoga, spending time with her cat. (Athlete, 13 Feb 2023)  
Superstitions / Rituals / BeliefsBefore competing she completes a stretching routine, watches videos of her cat, and does online shopping. (Athlete, 13 Feb 2023)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sport"Because swimming was too early in the morning – I like to sleep! Also, as a kid I was too skinny to play football."  
General Interest
General Interest
Hero / IdolCanadian speed skater Jordan Belchos, US basketball player Michael Jordan, Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam. (Athlete, 13 Feb 2023)  
Social Media
Social Media
twitter.com/valemaltais  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2011/2012 World Championships Overall2  
    2013/2014 World Championships 3000m Relay2  
    2014 Olympic Games 3000m Relay2  
    2015/2016 World Championships 3000m Relay2  
    2008/2009 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay2  
    2009/2010 World Team Championships Team2  
    2009/2010 World Championships 3000m Relay2  
    2012/2013 World Championships 3000m Relay2  
    2013/2014 World Championships Overall3  
    2011/2012 World Championships 1000m3  
    2013/2014 World Championships 1000m3  
    2006/2007 World Junior Championships 2000m Relay3  
    2010/2011 World Championships 3000m Relay3  
    2008/2009 World Championships 3000m Relay3  
    2017/2018 World Championships 3000m Relay3  
    2013/2014 World Championships 1500m4  
    2005/2006 World Junior Championships 2000m Relay4  
    2011/2012 World Championships 3000m Relay4  
    2016/2017 World Championships 3000m Relay5  
    2012/2013 World Championships 1500m5  
    2008/2009 World Junior Championships Overall6  
    2014/2015 World Championships 3000m Relay6  
    2014 Olympic Games 1000m6  
    2014 Olympic Games 1500m6  
    2006/2007 World Junior Championships Overall7  
    2011/2012 World Championships 500m7  
    2018 Olympic Games 1000m7  
    2018 Olympic Games 3000m Relay8  
    2012/2013 World Championships 500m8  
    2014 Olympic Games 500m9  
    2013/2014 World Championships 500m9  
    2012/2013 World Championships Overall9  
    2005/2006 World Junior Championships Overall11  
    2008/2009 World Championships 1500m11  
    2012/2013 World Championships 1000m12  
    2008/2009 World Championships Overall13  
    2011/2012 World Championships 1500m13  
    2015/2016 World Championships 1000m13  
    2015/2016 World Championships 500m13  
    2008/2009 World Championships 500m14  
    2010 Olympic Games 1500m14  
    2015/2016 World Championships Overall14  
    2015/2016 World Championships 1500m16  
    2018 Olympic Games 1500m19  
    2008/2009 World Championships 1000m21  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2014/2015 Dresden 3000m Relay1  
    2012/2013 Montreal, QC 1000m1  
    2015/2016 Shanghai 1000m1  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m2  
    2011/2012 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m2  
    2015/2016 Shanghai 3000m Relay2  
    2015/2016 Shanghai 1500m2  
    2017/2018 Budapest 3000m Relay2  
    2015/2016 Dordrecht 1000m2  
    2015/2016 Montreal, QC 3000m Relay2  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 3000m Relay2  
    2013/2014 Kolomna 1500m2  
    2017/2018 Dordrecht 1500m2  
    2011/2012 Saguenay, QC 3000m Relay2  
    2010/2011 Quebec, QC 3000m Relay2  
    2012/2013 Montreal, QC 3000m Relay2  
    2012/2013 Dresden 3000m Relay2  
    2012/2013 Sochi 3000m Relay2  
    2010/2011 Montreal, QC 1500m3  
    2011/2012 Moscow 1500m3  
    2016/2017 Dresden 1000m3  
    2016/2017 Dresden 1500m3  
    2014/2015 Erzurum 3000m Relay3  
    2015/2016 Toronto, ON 1000m3  
    2016/2017 Dresden 3000m Relay3  
    2014/2015 Salt Lake City, UT 3000m Relay3  
    2015/2016 Nagoya 3000m Relay3  
    2014/2015 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m3  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 3000m Relay3  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 3000m Relay3  
    2013/2014 Seoul 1500m3  
    2008/2009 Vancouver 3000m Relay3  
    2010/2011 Montreal, QC 3000m Relay3  
    2010/2011 Dresden 3000m Relay3  
    2009/2010 Beijing 3000m Relay3  
    2008/2009 Salt Lake City, UT 3000m Relay3  
    2009/2010 Montreal, QC 3000m Relay3  
    2009/2010 Seoul 3000m Relay3  
    2009/2010 Marquette, MI 3000m Relay3  
    2017/2018 Dordrecht 3000m Relay3  
    2013/2014 Seoul 3000m Relay3  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1500m4  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m4  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m4  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 3000m Relay4  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1500m4  
    2016/2017 Minsk 3000m Relay4  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 3000m Relay4  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 1000m4  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m5  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1500m5  
    2012/2013 Dresden 1500m5  
    2014/2015 Dresden 1500m5  
    2010/2011 Dresden 1000m6  
    2015/2016 Dresden 1000m6  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 1000m6  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m7  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m7  
    2015/2016 Dresden 1500m7  
    2015/2016 Dresden 3000m Relay7  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 1000m7  
    2014/2015 Dresden 1500m7  
    2014/2015 Erzurum 1500m8  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m9  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1500m9  
    2014/2015 Erzurum 1000m9  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1000m9  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1500m11  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m11  
    2016/2017 Minsk 1000m11  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1500m12  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1500m13  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m13  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m13  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 500m15  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 500m15  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1500m16  
    2012/2013 Dresden 1000m17  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 500m18  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m19  
    2016/2017 Minsk 1500m19  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 1500m19  
    2010/2011 Dresden 1500m20  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 500m20  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1000m24  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m37  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1000m39  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1000m41  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1000m42  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m58  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 500m64