Valérie Maltais withdraws from 2018 Short Track Team Selections

Photo: Tony Chung ( @SHORTTRACKHD )

Valérie Maltais withdraws from 2018 Short Track Team Selections

           

Montreal, August 19, 2017 – Following a fall during the semifinal round of the second 500m of the competition held last Wednesday, Valérie Maltais, from Saguenay, QC, had to withdraw from the 2018 Short Track Team Selections held until Sunday, August 20 at Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal.

Maltais has been sidelined after experiencing moderate symptoms due to a concussion. She will miss the rest of the races scheduled at the competition.

To be able to take part in the 2018 Olympic Games, Valérie Maltais will ask for a bye, as stated in Speed Skating Canada’s 2018 Short Track Olympic Policies and Procedures. If a bye request is granted to another skater, Valérie Maltais could then be picked as a discretionary choice. The full team will be announced on August 30.

The first three skaters in the women's overall standings at the end of the 2018 Short Track Team Selections, as determined by the amount of points earned in the two best results out of three, in the two best distances out of three – therefore taking into account results from four races out of a total of nine – will be chosen on the team for the PyeongChang Games. The fourth spot available will be awarded to a female skater that will have requested a bye, while the fifth spot will be a discretionary choice.

Valérie Maltais will meet with the media on Saturday, August 19 at 1 p.m., before the start of racing.

“I would have preferred to continue racing at these Selections, especially considering that I earned good results in the 1000m and the 1500m last weekend, which gave me confidence going into the other races,” said Valérie Maltais. “However, after my fall and after consulting with the medical team, it became clear that it would be best for me to withdraw from the competition. It's quite disappointing to come to this conclusion at this stage of the Olympic qualifying process, but I must think about my mid-term and long-term future.”

“My greatest wish is to be with the girls at the PyeongChang Games and I am confident I will be able to help the team do well. I must now put my trust in the internal selection process involving the bye requests and the discretionary choice.”

News releaseSpeed Skating Canada