BEIJING — SILVER CRASHES INTO FINAL
Speedskater Steven Dubois battled his way to a photo-finish silver medal in a packed, 10-man field in the men's 1,500-metre short-track event. The 24-year-old from Terrebonne, Que. had crashed in his semifinal, but was advanced to the A final when 2018 silver medalist Sjinkie Kneght of the Netherlands was penalized. "My strategy was to go to the front (and) slow down a little bit because I didn't want to pull the whole race. Then one of the skaters did an outside pass, hit me on the shoulders, made me lose all my speed and go back to last," he said. "That moment I knew it was an advancement, but the announcer and the referee waited a long time, so I was starting to panic a bit after the race to be honest ... But yeah, that's how I got to the final."
ODE TO O'DINE
When Meryeta O'Dine was forced to withdraw from the Pyeongchang Games because she suffered a concussion two days before her event, the Canadian promised herself she'd be back in Beijing. Not only did O'Dine make it back, but she won three consecutive races to clinch a spot in the big final, where she came in third to win Canada's third snowboard medal of Beijing 2022 and seventh overall. The 24-year-old from Prince George, B.C., won her 1/8 final, quarterfinal and semifinal – that last one with a little luck when Julia Pereira de Sousa crashed. In the big final, Lindsey Jacobellis of the U.S. crossed the finish line in front while Chloe Trespeuch of France took silver. O'Dine's medal was Canada's fifth in snowboard cross, and first since Dominique Maltais' silver in 2014.
LEGAL LIMBO
Canada's figure skaters settled for fourth place in the team event this week. But Canadians are watching closely as a legal issue unfolds that involves athletes who have won medals. The award ceremony was delayed because a “legal consultation” was required between the IOC and ISU – the governing body of skating. Details of the case were not specified though could involve suspected athlete ineligibility or a doping rules violation. The Russians won gold, the Americans took silver and Japan was awarded the bronze. A terrific Olympic debut by teenager Madeline Schizas highlighted Canada's fourth-place finish. "We have no information beyond the fact that the ceremony was postponed," Skate Canada said.
A RUUD AWAKENING
The podium had Evan McEachran's name written all over it. The 24-year-old freestyle skier from Oakville, Ont., was tied for second after landing an impressive trick on his first run in the inaugural men's big air event. But he lost control on his second trick and fell on the landing before crashing on his final jump. The podium, which seemed well within reach, was gone. On the top step was Norway's Birk Ruud, whose first two runs set him up for the easy victory. It left McEachran rueing a missed opportunity. "Unfortunately, it was an inches game," he said. "I think if I put down that second one and hadn't fallen over, could’ve ended up on the podium. So it's a tough pill to swallow. This event happens once every four years."
SHIFFRIN'S STRUGGLES
American star skier Mikaela Shiffrin entered the Beijing Olympics a strong contender to win a gold medal at a third consecutive Winter Games. That could still happen, though she's off to a troubling start. The 26-year-old skidded out of control about five seconds into the opening run of the women's slalom, and was out of the event. That was even less time than her trip of about 10 seconds down the hill in the first run of the giant slalom on Monday. She was the defending champion in that event. Shiffrin still has a chance to flip the script. She has said she plans to enter all five individual races at the Yanqing Alpine Skiing Center.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2022.
The Canadian Press
