A sold-out Maurice Richard Arena set to host Olympic homecoming and fan-favourite Kim Boutin’s final races this weekend
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – Olympians from over 30 countries will hit the ice in Montreal this weekend for the season-ending 2026 ISU World Short Track Championships, where nine highly coveted world titles will be up for grabs.
The atmosphere at the Maurice Richard Arena will be electric, as the historic home of Canadian short track will be at full capacity for the first time since the World Championships in 2018. Nearly 5,000 fans will get to cheer on Canada’s Olympic team as they return to the ice after capturing five medals at Milano-Cortina 2026. They will also be a part of Kim Boutin’s final races, as the six-time Olympic medalist is set to retire from the sport following the competition.
The Canadian Ice Maples were in a class of their own atop the short track world during this season’s World Tour campaign, winning an impressive 31 medals (15 gold, 7 silver, 9 bronze) and capturing the men’s, women’s and team Crystal Globes.
The team would go on to capture five Olympic medals last month in Italy, including three in individual distances and two in the relays.
Steven Dubois (Lachenaie, Que.) was crowned Olympic Champion in the 500m, while Courtney Sarault (Moncton, N.B.) earned 1000m silver and 500m bronze. The pair also contributed to Canada’s silver medal in the 2000m mixed relay alongside William Dandjinou (Montreal, Que.), Félix Roussel (Sherbrooke, Que.), Kim Boutin (Sherbrooke, Que.) and Florence Brunelle (Trois-Rivières, Que.), while Sarault earned her fourth medal of the Games – the most of any Canadian athlete – a few days later by leading the 3000m women’s relay team to bronze with Boutin, Brunelle and Danaé Blais (Châteauguay, Que.).
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