Bilodeau and Omischl win the Globe
Less than one year to the Games. Across the country Canadians are now counting down the days while athletes remain focused on their plan. Results of this winter season point to Canada having a “best ever” Winter Olympics in 2010.
After the “Golden Weekend” at Vancouver area Olympic test events, Alexandre Bilodeau did what no other male Canadian skier has done, refusing to relinquish the top step of the podium. Alex has now remained on the top step for 4 World Cup events in a row. He has locked up the World Cup title, being the first guy to do so since Jean-Luc Brassard in 1996. Alex and Jennifer Heil are presently in Japan for World Championships March 7th and 8th.
Post his win at the Olympic trial event at Cypress Mountain, Steve Omischl travelled to downtown Moscow where he locked up the World Cup title at night in front of 50,000 spectators.
Talk about tough, at the Bobsleigh World Championships in Lake Placid, Helen Upperton took a page out of the old timer’s hockey play book. She had her rib cage frozen both days and pushed for the first time in weeks to finish in 4th place. Brakeman Jennifer Ciochetti put in a superb effort. This team has learnt this season that they can win on any track.
Finally, this might be a February report but when I arrived in Japan for World Championships, the Ski Cross event was already underway. Davey Barr took the Bronze in a very exciting final with fellow Canadian Chris Delbosco (4th) and two very fast Austrians. Davey turned in a fantastic race being faced with many big names in the previous rounds. We will try and locate a Vancouver firm to hire Davey this summer so that he can train full time rather than work during the day and train after 6:00p.m.
March will see 4 different World Championships: * You can watch most of them live on www.cbc.ca
4-8 Freestyle Skiing : Japan
6-8 Short Track Speed Skating : Austria
12-15 Long Track Speed Skating : Vancouver
23-29 Figure Skating : Los Angeles
