The 27-year-old nearly set a national record while reaching the podium last weekend. Now she has a chance to take another big step at the Olympic Oval.

There may be a lot of firsts for Beatrice Lamarche in this long-track speed skating season and she’s up for them all.

Last weekend in Salt Lake City, ISU World Cup stop number one, the 27-year-old from Quebec City made her inaugural climb onto the podium, finishing third in the women’s 1000 metres behind a pair of Dutch skaters.

She did so in a personal best of 1:12.77. It was the first time since Christine Nesbitt in 2012-13 that a Canadian had medalled in the women’s 1000m on the circuit.

“Oh my god, it was something really special,” said Lamarche, taking a breather as she prepared for this weekend’s World Cup stop at the Olympic Oval

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