Ivanie Blondin wins silver for 8th career mass start medal at world championships

Canada's Ivanie Blondin claimed silver in the women's mass start for her third medal at the 2025 world single distances championships in Hamar, Norway.

The 34-year-old from Ottawa finished 0.2 seconds behind Dutch long-tracker Marijke Groenewoud, who won her third mass start world title with a time of eight minutes 23.17 seconds in the final event of the four-day competition.

Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida clocked 8:23.58 for bronze.

WATCH l Blondin skates to silver in mass start:

Canada's Ivanie Blondin skates to mass start silver in Hamar

"It was a solid race. I didn't really have the legs for the final sprint. I wasn't being defensive at all, so it was difficult making my way through, Blondin said in a release. "At one point I was a bit further back with two laps left because there was some bumping happening which is usual.

"I am still happy with the outcome and how I was feeling all week. I just didn't feel like I was tip top today."

Blondin finished second in the event for the fourth straight year after winning it in 2020, collecting her eighth career mass start medal at the world championships. The 2022 Olympic silver medallist won two World Cup silver medals and a bronze in the discipline this season.

Groenewoud also beat Blondin earlier this month for a mass start gold medal at the World Cup stop in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

"It makes it a lot easier losing to Marijke because she is such a sweetheart, and we are really good friends," Blondin said. "We did a little bike ride together last week and had coffee. It has been a long week and season. I don't want to make excuses, but I think it maybe was not the best preparation for worlds for myself."

Blondin also helped Canada earn a team sprint silver medal in