The 2026 ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships lit up Montreal on Friday, with thousands of school kids turning the Maurice Richard Arena into a cauldron of noise.

On a day in which the skaters’ focus was firmly on setting up chances for glory at the weekend, the support of the next generation was widely welcomed. 

“This crowd is amazing, they gave me a lot of energy, energy that I needed today,” home favourite Courtney Sarault said, after safely negotiating her way through the early stages of the 500m, 1000m and 1500m. 

“It’s been definitely a fast turnaround from the Olympics so a little bit of tiredness there, a little bit of fatigue but nonetheless ready to fight and give everything I have left in these next couple of races.” 

Courtney Sarault skating in the Women's 500m heat in the ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships in March 2026 in Montreal, Canada © ISU

‘Reach the finals, think about medals’

That was a familiar refrain, with skaters prepared to push themselves to the limit for the chance to end the season as a world champion. 

“I just have to keep doing what I am doing,” Italy’s Elisa Confortola said. “Reach the finals and then think about the medals.” 

The long-distance specialist emerged out of her home Olympic Games with a mixed relay gold and a women’s relay silver. Results that have kept her smiling for weeks, but she is still desperate to turn a succession of great individual performances – eight top-10 finishes on the ISU World Tour – into silverware. 

“My 1500m at the Olympics was a little bit unfortunate,” said the 23-year-old, who ended 10^th after failing to make the A final. “I knew I was in good shape for that but I couldn’t show what I wanted. So, I am still hungry.” 

Confortola made it through unscathed to both the 1000m quarter-finals (Saturday) and the 1500m semi-finals (Sunday). The Republic of Korea’s newly crowned Olympic 1500m champion Kim Gilli will see her there, in a stadium she loves. 

“It’s one of my favourites, the ice quality is good, it’s firm, I like it,” Kim said, before revealing her aims for the weekend. “One (gold) in the relay and one in an individual (event).” 

‘Not done yet’

One of the highlights of day one undoubtedly came in the men’s 1000m heat six. With only two guaranteed spots on offer for Sunday’s 1000m quarter-finals, up stepped Dutch Olympic champion Jens van 't Wout, Canada’s reigning ISU World Tour 1000m No.1 William Dandjinou and Korean five-time Olympic medallist Hwang Dae Heon. 

Hwang Dae Heon skating in the Men's 1500m heat in the ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships in March 2026 in Montreal, Canada © ISU

The race more than lived up to the billing. First Hwang took on the lead, cranking up the pace early. Then, to the delight of the crowd, Dandjinou took over, before in a devastating final burst van ‘t Wout swept past both of them. 

“It was a hard one,” said Dandjinou, who finished ahead of Hwang. “I knew it was going to be a three-man race and I just wanted to be well-positioned for the last two laps. Jens did an amazing pass, so congrats to him.”

While the Canadian will go for glory in all five distances, his Dutch rival has narrowed his focus, after struggling with illness since his golden Olympic Games. 

“I can feel my energy level is too low… I can’t do two distances on one day right now,” said van ‘T Wout who will forgo the 1500m. “It was either that (the 1500m) or miss the 500m and that’s the one distance I haven’t won (a major gold in) yet, so I want to do the 500m. That’s the big goal.” 

He will face quite a challenge from reigning Olympic and world champion Steven Dubois in his favoured sprint, on home ice. The Canadian is another ready to defy recent illness, after easing through to the next stage. 

 “My body was like you’re done but I am not done yet,” Dubois said “I’m gonna go in there with the same mindset as at the Games, just trying to enjoy the crowd.”

William Dandjinou in the ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships in March 2026 in Montreal, Canada © ISU

‘I’ll give everything’

Dubois may well spend just as much energy cheering on partner Kim Boutin. The six-time Olympic medallist, and three-time world champion, a true titan of Canadian Short Track Speed Skating, is preparing to say goodbye to the sport she loves. 

“Finishing at home for me is going to be awesome,” said Boutin after she flew through the 500m heats – much to the delight of her legion of young fans. “Hearing my name in the stands from the young kids, for me it’s just nice to pass the passion to them. 

“I am going to leave my joy, my sadness to quit the sport on the ice. I am going to have fun with the girls and the boys on the ice, and I’ll give everything.” 

Follow the 2026 ISU CNSG Short Tarck World Championships across the ISU's social media channels. Info here on where to watch the action. The event schedule is here.