MONTREAL

Speedskater Kim Boutin withdraws from short-track event due to injury

Staff The Canadian Press

Published Wednesday, January 8, 2020 12:02PM EST

Canadian bronze medalist Kim Boutin, left, skates behind gold medalist Arianna Fontana, of Italy, in the women's 500-metre short-track speedskating final at the Pyeonchang Winter Olympics Tuesday, February 13, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Text:

MONTREAL -- Speedskater Kim Boutin has pulled out of this weekend's ISU Four Continents Short Track Championships as a precautionary measure due to a knee injury.

Danae Blais was added to the Canadian team as a replacement for Boutin, Speed Skating Canada said Wednesday in a release.

Boutin, who won three medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, was expected to provide specifics on the injury at a media availability later in the day. The federation release did not say how or when she suffered the injury.

Boutin, a native of Sherbrooke, Que., rested for several days before the decision to withdraw was made Monday. She hopes to resume regular training in the next few weeks, the release said.

Blais, from Chateauguay, Que., is in her second season on the World Cup circuit.

The Canadian roster also includes Courtney Sarault of Moncton, Alyson Charles of Montreal, Claudia Gagnon of La Baie, Que., Montreal's Camille De Serres-Rainville, Charles Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Que., Steven Dubois of Lachenaie, Que., Cedrik Blais of Chateauguay, Que., Montreal's Pascal Dion and William Dandjinou of Verdun, Que.

- First reported by The Canadian Press on Jan. 7, 2020