Charles Hamelin races to gold in short-track World Cup in Shanghai

Charles Hamelin raced to gold in the men's 1000 metres at a short-track speedskating World Cup in Shanghai, China, to top a six-medal performance Sunday by Canada's team.

Marianne St-Gelais won bronze in the women's 1,000 metres, while William Preudhomme and Kasandra Bradette won bronze in the men's and women's 500 metres, respectively. Both the men's and women's relay teams also won bronze.

Hamelin, from Sainte-Julie, Que., captured his first gold of the season, a day after winning silver in the 1,500 metres.

"I was able to skate smartly, to overtake effectively and in the right moments, and I had the energy to attack until the end," Hamelin said. "Everything went very well."

St-Gelais, from Saint-Felicien, Que., won her second medal of the weekend after finishing second in Saturday's 500.

"I made the mistake of getting back in the third spot after overtaking and I was fourth for a great part of the race, but I said to myself that I was going to prepare something for the end," said St-Gelais. "On the last turn, I did start to overtake on the inside — there were some hands, some arms and lot of things — but I was finally able to pull up to third place."

Bradette, from Saint-Felicien, and Toronto's Preudhomme both earned their first career individual World Cup medal.

"I was tense because I was up against three Chinese skaters. I knew I had to have a good start and I did, and I ended up third, but the two Chinese skaters in front of me were zig-zagging in the straights to prevent me from overtaking", explained Bradette. "I'm happy with third place, but I still have to improve some things."

Preudhomme was competing in first-ever World Cup, after being called up to replace an injured Sasha Alexander Fathoullin.

"It was a really long day, but I'm really happy with how things went," said Preudhomme. "After not doing so well in the 500 on Friday, I knew I had to redeem myself. The final was a fast race, but I hung with it and ended up third."

Samuel Girard of Ferland-et-Boilleau, QC, Charles and Francois Hamelin, and Patrick Duffy of Oakville, Ont., raced to bronze in the men's 5,000 relay.

St-Gelais, Bradette, Kim Boutin of Sherbrooke, Que., and Joanie Gervais, of Saguenay, Que., were third in the women's relay.