Canada's Valerie Maltais races in the women's 5000-metre event at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary, Alta., Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.

Valérie Maltais has found another gear heading into her fifth Olympic Games.

The 35-year-old speedskater from La Baie, Que., opened the World Cup season with the fastest 3,000 metres of her life for her best result in the distance, which was a silver medal last week in Salt Lake City.

After another silver medal in women’s mass start Saturday, and helping Canada take silver in team pursuit there Sunday, Maltais hopes to carry that momentum over to Friday’s 3k in Calgary.

“I’m really excited to race another 3k. Here in Calgary the ice will be fast again, the crowd is good and so I want to do a race that I will execute the way that I’m planning to and

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