Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein had to cancel her 3000 meter start at the World Cup in Quebec, Canada, at short notice for health reasons.
The 51-year-old Berliner said on social media that she had to forgo taking part in the race “due to illness and injury”. “It’s disappointing for me, but health always comes first,” wrote the five-time Olympic champion, who won her 43rd German championship title in Inzell last October.
In Pechstein’s absence, Josie Hofmann from Erfurt was the fastest German over 3000 meters in the weaker B group. The European Championship runner-up in the team pursuit finished ninth in 4:14.50 minutes, 7.07 seconds behind winner Miho Takagi from Japan.