When Isabelle Weidemann entered the Milan track, they had already had half of their coffee. Back in Ottawa, her former coach Mike Rivet sat quietly with a few Gloucester Concordes skaters as their former “mini-master” prepared herself for yet another endurance and strength test.
The performance was not worthy of a medal. However, it was definitely Isabelle.
With a time of 3:59.24, she placed fifth in the 3000 meters. With a rhythm that only the most skilled skaters could sustain, her skates sliced through the rink. She was incredibly durable throughout the six laps, remarkably efficient in her turns, and never lost her rhythm.
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Isabelle Weidemann |
| Date of Birth | July 18, 1995 |
| Birthplace | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Height | 1.88 m |
| Discipline | Long-track Speed Skating |
| Olympic Medals | Gold (Team Pursuit, 2022), Silver (5000m, 2022), Bronze (3000m, 2022) |
| Education | BSc, University of Calgary |
| @i_weidemann | |
| Reference Link | Olympic.ca Profile |
On that particular day, only two skaters recorded lap splits under 31 seconds. Isabelle was among them.
Weidemann was meticulous against the eventual gold medallist and Dutch favorite, Joy Beune. She remained calm. She refrained from pressing too soon. She increased speed in a subtle yet purposeful manner, similar to how a cellist creates tension with a crescendo.
She broke down in tears during the post-race infield, not for herself but for her teammate Valérie Maltais, who had just won bronze. I remembered that picture more than the outcome of the race. It served as a reminder that medals aren’t always awarded for individual accomplishments.
Expectations have been especially high since Beijing, where she won three medals. She has, however, chosen a more subdued path—one that is focused, reflective, and remarkably resilient—instead of pursuing every expectation. This season, her comeback to form was the result of recalibration rather than a rigorous training regimen.
She regained her strength by cycling with her brother Jake more frequently and making time for recuperation rather than overdoing it. That change was especially good for her mental health as well as her physical health.
She said, “I felt strong for the first time in a really long time,” before to the season. Her candor touched a nerve. A lot of athletes are under pressure to communicate only through their performance. Instead, Isabelle spoke with self-awareness.
She has been quite open about her mental health over the last few years. She has demonstrated the ebbs and flows of resilience rather than offering a filtered version. By doing this, she has established herself as an inspiration for athletes who prioritize longevity above immediate domination.
The attention is never the main emphasis when she trains at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. Streamlining motion, eliminating inefficiencies, and learning to trust the silent labor are all examples of subtle repetition. She doesn’t skate very well. However, it is really effective. She does not surge. She constructs.
Rivet’s statement, “She doesn’t die off very much,” sticks with me for this reason. She maintains her speed even as others slow down, according to this skating expression. However, it also characterizes her as a person in a metaphorical sense.
Weidemann has quietly redefined success since the outbreak. She still has documents from Canada. The team chase is still anchored by her. However, she now carries her ambition with a softness that is remarkably evident without being loud or ostentatious.
I recall observing her pace herself like she had an internal metronome during one of her early junior races. That intuition hasn’t diminished. It’s sharper, if anything.
The similar vibe can be seen in her Instagram posts, which include short captions, appreciation for sponsors, pictures of her dogs, and a few behind-the-scenes looks at rink life. Drama is not necessary. The story is already told by her skating.
By adding additional flexibility to her workouts, she has achieved balance, which is something that many elite athletes strive for but seldom achieve. She isn’t taking skating any less seriously. She’s just skating less heavily. That is extremely beneficial when your sport requires a high level of discipline.
Her best chance of winning a medal is still Thursday’s 5000m. Her ability to maintain composure and exert a lot of effort in the latter third is rewarded with that event. Her reputation won’t change even if she doesn’t make it to the podium.
She is currently constructing something more durable than a medal table. Trust is being built by her at her own speed. And in a sport that frequently values explosiveness above sustainability, that works astonishingly well.
Not because she skates the fastest single lap, but because she skates every lap with purpose, Isabelle Weidemann has become a vital figure in Canadian speed skating via quiet consistency and intense focus.
She is still developing at the age of thirty, combining late-race energy with composed execution. teaching us that grit may be sensed without being loud.
Furthermore, gold and silver don’t describe the legacy she is creating, in my opinion. It is characterized by the exceptional clarity of a skater who races in accordance with her identity.
That is genius, in my opinion—subtle, steady, and unavoidable.
