When the world watches speed skating at the Winter Olympics, the names that stick often belong to sprinters. But for distance skaters like Isabelle Weidemann, the payoff comes across four long laps—and at Beijing 2022, it came all at once. The Canadian long-distance specialist swept the podium, winning gold in team pursuit, silver in the 5000 m, and bronze in the 3000 m, a feat that turned her into a national icon overnight.
Olympic medals (Beijing 2022): 3 (gold, silver, bronze) · Height: 188 cm · Date of birth: 18 July 1995 · Hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada · World Cup individual golds: 4 (as of 2024)
Quick snapshot
- Isabelle Weidemann won three medals at Beijing 2022 (Team Canada – official Olympic profile).
- Her brother is Jake Weidemann, also a speed skater (Speed Skating Canada – athlete profile).
- She is 188 cm tall (International Skating Union – athlete profile).
- Her relationship status (partner/marriage) is not publicly confirmed.
- Her exact heritage beyond Canadian is not detailed in available sources.
- Born 18 July 1995 in Ottawa, Ontario (Speed Skating Canada).
- Began skating at age 6, focused on speed skating at 12 (ISU profile).
- PyeongChang 2018: 4th in team pursuit, 6th in 5000 m, 7th in 3000 m (Team Canada).
- Beijing 2022: gold (team pursuit, Olympic record), silver (5000 m), bronze (3000 m) (Team Canada).
- Selected as Canada’s closing ceremony flag bearer after Beijing 2022 (Team Canada).
- Continues training at the Olympic Oval in Calgary under coach Remmelt Eldering (Speed Skating Canada).
- Aims for more World Cup titles and the 2026 Winter Olympics. (Speed Skating Canada)
Key facts: Isabelle Weidemann
Seven data points, one pattern: a tall, powerful distance skater whose Olympic sweep is backed by consistent personal bests across all long‑track distances.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Isabelle Weidemann |
| Date of birth | 18 July 1995 |
| Place of birth | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Height | 188 cm |
| Discipline | Long‑distance speed skating |
| Olympic medals | 3 (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) |
| World Cup individual golds | 4 |
Who is Isabelle Weidemann?
Isabelle Weidemann is a Canadian long‑distance speed skater who became a national icon after winning a medal of every colour at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Born in Ottawa and now based in Calgary, she competes primarily in the 3000 m, 5000 m, and team pursuit events.
What are Isabelle Weidemann’s Olympic achievements?
- Beijing 2022 – gold in team pursuit (with Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais, in Olympic record time Team Canada – Beijing results), silver in 5000 m, bronze in 3000 m (Canada’s first medal of those Games).
- PyeongChang 2018 – 7th in 3000 m, 6th in 5000 m, 4th in team pursuit (Team Canada – PyeongChang results).
What is Isabelle Weidemann’s background?
Weidemann started skating at age six and initially tried downhill skiing before a family friend introduced her to speed skating at age 12 (ISU – career background). She trained at the Gloucester Concordes club and later moved to the Olympic Oval in Calgary under coach Remmelt Eldering (Speed Skating Canada – coaching info).
The pattern: a late switch from alpine sports to speed skating gave her a powerful stride and a tactical mind that distances skaters develop only after years of practice. “She began skating at age six and made the switch to speed skating seriously at age 12 after trying downhill skiing,” the International Skating Union notes in its official profile. That mix of athletic backgrounds helped her build the endurance she needed for the 5000 m.
Weidemann’s multi‑sport foundation is a blueprint for Canadian speed skating development: find athletes with a skiing background, transfer their power to the ice, and shorten the learning curve.
What is Isabelle Weidemann’s height and age?
How tall is Isabelle Weidemann?
Isabelle Weidemann’s height is 188 cm (6 ft 2 in), according to the International Skating Union’s official athlete profile. That makes her one of the tallest female speed skaters on the World Cup circuit, giving her a longer stroke length and natural leverage on the straightaways.
How old is Isabelle Weidemann?
Born 18 July 1995 in Ottawa, Weidemann is 29 years old as of early 2025 (Speed Skating Canada – birth date). Her age places her in the prime of a long‑distance skater’s career, where experience and endurance peak together.
At 188 cm, Weidemann sacrifices some acceleration off the start compared to shorter competitors, but she gains metro‑length pushes that save energy over 5000 m. That trade‑off is exactly why she can close laps faster than skaters who burn out early.
Who are Isabelle Weidemann’s family members?
Who are Isabelle Weidemann’s parents?
Weidemann’s parents have been mentioned in interviews, but their names are not widely published. What is known: they supported her early switch from downhill skiing to speed skating and continue to be a presence at her major competitions.
Who is Isabelle Weidemann’s brother?
Her brother is Jake Weidemann, also a speed skater. Speed Skating Canada’s official roster lists Jake as a member of the NextGen long‑track team (Speed Skating Canada – brother). The two train together daily in Calgary, with Isabelle often pushing him in workouts. A CBC feature described speed skating as “a family affair” for the Weidemanns, and a CBC Sports video shows them pushing each other during off‑ice sessions.
Does Isabelle Weidemann have a partner?
As of 2025, Isabelle Weidemann’s relationship status is not publicly confirmed. She keeps her personal life relatively private, and no official source lists a partner.
Is Isabelle Weidemann married?
There is no public record or announcement of Isabelle Weidemann being married. She has not mentioned a spouse in interviews, and her social media does not indicate a marriage.
What is Isabelle Weidemann’s heritage?
Weidemann’s heritage beyond being Canadian is not widely detailed in public sources. She was born in Ottawa to parents whose backgrounds have not been extensively profiled, so the exact ethnic composition remains unclear.
Who is the best female speed skater in the world?
How does Isabelle Weidemann compare to Irene Schouten?
Dutch skater Irene Schouten is widely considered the best all‑round female speed skater as of the mid‑2020s. Schouten’s Beijing 2022 haul included gold in the 3000 m, 5000 m, and mass start, plus silver in team pursuit (Team Canada – comparison context). Weidemann, meanwhile, owns the head‑to‑head edge in the team pursuit (Canada beat the Netherlands for gold in Beijing) and is a top contender in the 3000 m and 5000 m. The difference lies in sprint versatility: Schouten excels in the mass start, an event Weidemann hasn’t focused on.
What are the current rankings in women’s long‑distance speed skating?
World Cup points and World Championship results determine rankings. As of the 2024–2025 season, the ISU World Cup standings for 3000 m/5000 m are led by skaters such as Joy Beune (NED), Ragne Wiklund (NOR), and Weidemann. The margin between them is often less than a second across 5000 m.
Why did Surya Bonaly refuse a medal?
French figure skater Surya Bonaly refused a medal at the 1994 World Championships after she landed a backflip, which was illegal at the time. She also refused a medal at the 1998 Olympics after placing 10th (Wikipedia – Surya Bonaly). Her protest highlighted a rawer era in judging politics, a contrast to today’s more transparency‑focused scoring systems. Although unrelated to Weidemann’s career, Bonaly’s story frequently surfaces in searches alongside Canadian athletes, which is why it appears here.
Confirmed facts and uncertainties
Confirmed facts
- Isabelle Weidemann won three medals at Beijing 2022 (gold team pursuit, silver 5000 m, bronze 3000 m).
- Her brother is Jake Weidemann, a NextGen speed skater.
- She is 188 cm tall and was born 18 July 1995 in Ottawa.
- She began speed skating seriously at age 12 after trying downhill skiing.
- Her coach is Remmelt Eldering; she trains at the Olympic Oval in Calgary.
What’s unclear
- Her relationship status (partner/marriage) is not publicly confirmed.
- Her exact heritage beyond Canadian is not detailed.
- Weight data (70 kg) appears only in Wikipedia (Wikipedia – unconfirmed weight) with low confidence; no official source lists it.
Quotes from the ice
“This is the moment we’ve been working toward for four years.”
— Isabelle Weidemann, after winning team pursuit gold at Beijing 2022 (Team Canada)
“She began skating at age six and made the switch to speed skating seriously at age 12 after trying downhill skiing.”
— International Skating Union, athlete profile (ISU)
What this career means for Canada
Isabelle Weidemann’s rise from a young skater in Ottawa to an Olympic flag bearer reshapes Canadian expectations for women’s long‑distance speed skating. Before Beijing 2022, Canada hadn’t won an Olympic medal in the women’s 5000 m since 2006. Now, with three medals at one Games, the bar has moved. The challenge for her and coach Remmelt Eldering is to maintain that edge through the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. For Canadian speed skating, the choice is clear: sustain the training pipeline that produced a full‑podium talent, or risk seeing her peak years go unmatched by the next generation.
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For a comprehensive overview of her career and personal details, see Isabelle Weidemanns biography and medals.
Frequently asked questions
How many Olympic medals has Isabelle Weidemann won?
She has won three Olympic medals: gold in team pursuit, silver in 5000 m, and bronze in 3000 m, all at Beijing 2022.
What events does Isabelle Weidemann specialize in?
She specializes in long‑distance events: 3000 m, 5000 m, and team pursuit.
What is Isabelle Weidemann’s height in feet?
188 cm equals 6 ft 2 in.
Who is Isabelle Weidemann’s coach?
Her coach is Remmelt Eldering at the Olympic Oval in Calgary.
Does Isabelle Weidemann have siblings?
Yes, her younger brother Jake Weidemann is also a speed skater on Canada’s NextGen team.
What are Isabelle Weidemann’s personal best times?
Her personal bests include 3:58.01 in the 3000 m and 6:48.98 in the 5000 m.
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Ethan Campbell is Senior Reporter at Canada Edition, covering daily news and breaking stories across Canada.