2010 Canadian Winter Olympians to Watch
Local Athletes Look for Gold in 2010 After Great World Cup Seasons
Oct 5, 2009
2010 should be a great year for Canada's Winter Olympians. If the trend continues, and Canadian athletes find success as they have done over the past few World Cup seasons, the 2010 Olympics could be the Canadian teams' most successful ever. In the 2008-09 World Cup season, Canada finished second to Germany in overall medal count. This year is off to a similar start and means the athletes should be peaking right on time. A combination of veteran athletes and newcomers make the team a surety to challenge for podium finishes in many of the events. The Own the Podium initiative, orchestrated in 2005, appears to be paying off and the following athletes will help Canada attain the goal of leading the medal count in 2010.
Long Track Speed Skating
A veteran of 3 Olympics (1998, 2002, 2006), Jeremy Wotherspoon remains one of the greatest speed skaters on the planet. Having recovered from a broken arm that kept him out of competition last season, Wotherspoon will be a top gold medal prospect in the 500 and 1000 metre races. He is the all time leader in World Cup victories but has just one silver medal in the Olympics from Nagano 1998. At 33 years old, no question that 2010 will be his last Olympics and no doubt he would love nothing more than to go out on top.
Snowboarding
A Squamish native, Maelle Ricker has dreamed of winning an Olympic medal since she was a child. She competed in Nagano '98 but then missed out on Salt Lake due to a knee injury. A crash in the snowboard cross final led to her fourth place finish in Turin 2006. Although no podium finish at her previous two Olympics, Ricker has 12 World Cup podium finishes since 2006. She started off the 2009-10 World Cup season with a victory in the snowboard cross, held in Argentina. If she stays healthy, she might very well have her first Olympic podium finish in front of the hometown fans.
Also in snowboarding, Turin bronze medalist Dominique Maltais, showed she had the heart and desire to do what it takes to get to the podium. After the debacle that was the snowboard cross final in Turin, Maltais showed she can win on her own terms, and has secured 12 podium finishes in World Cup competitions. Despite two broken wrists in the 2008-09 season she finished strong and will hopefully carry that momentum into the new year.
Cross Country Skiing
Perhaps the best moment for Canada in Turin 2006 was Chandra Crawford belting out the national anthem after her amazing and unexpected victory in the cross country skiing sprint. Recreating that moment in Whistler is well within her reach. Although she missed last season with injury, Crawford will be ready to join Sara Renner on Canada's team for 2010.
Sara Renner partnered the now retired Beckie Scott to a silver medal in Turin 2006. In what will be her last Olympics before settling down with husband, Thomas Grandi and her daughter, Renners' hopes are high for an individual medal in 2010. After taking time off to have her child, Renner is motivated to win a medal on home soil.
Brothers on Ice
Brothers Charles and Francois Hamelin will represent Canada in short track speed skating in 2010. Older brother Charles has one Olympics under his belt, finishing 4th in the 1500 m while receiving a silver as part of Canada's team in the 5000m relay. Both are off to a flying start in World Cup competition which bodes well for 2010. The brothers made the podium together at a 1000m World Cup event in Vancouver earlier this year - what a thrill it would be to share the podium when it truly counts next year.
Figure Skating
Patrick Chan will be just 20 years old when the Olympics come around and he'll be carrying the weight of a nation on his young shoulders. His results in international competition have been improving steadily over the past couple of seasons. This past summer, Chan attempted his first quad toe loop in competition - he fell but got credit for completing the full rotations. He has stated it a goal to complete the quad toe loop in the Olympics. If he succeeds it will surely be one of the most memorable moments of the event.
Games of the 21st Olympiad
Controversy has swirled around the city of Vancouver since it was named host of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The hope is once the games begin, Canadians will be swept up in national pride and cheer on the athletes who have worked so hard to attain their dreams. In effect they are the dreams of a nation; representing the country is a huge responsibility. Some of the athletes will stand high on the podium, others will have to hope for another chance. But regardless of results, Canadian athletes will have given their all, as they have done behind the scenes over the past few years leading up to the event. When 2010 rolls around and the Olympics get underway, Canada must get behind their athletes and give them every opportunity to own the podium.
 |
 |
