It took one look at the ladies huddled at the side of the rink on Tuesday for coach Sebastien Cros to relax.
Hands on their knees and open mouths sucking in whatever oxygen they could, the Canadian women’s relay team was the picture of exhaustion. Moments earlier, they had been pushed hard in what was their final practice before the 3,000-metre relay. And, to Cros’ pleasure, they had pushed right back.
“The girls are ready,” he said. “They want this final to fight and show what they can do. Like always, we don’t know the end results. But they want to skate. And they’re ready.”
Last night, that preparation paid off. The Canadian relay team, which had a 75% of ending up on the podium, finished a surprising second behind the Chinese, and the first-finishing Koreans who were disqualified.
The silver medal continues a trend for this country’s women short track speedskaters. Ever since the 1992 Olympics, when the Olympics officially recognized the sport, Canada has finished no worse than third.
Heading into these Games, another medal was expected from Jessica Gregg, Kalyna Roberge, Marianne St-Gelais and Tania Vicent. The only question was what colour would it be.
Canada had been a third-place team in each of the four world cups this season. And the team willfully acknowledged that it would probably take either a mistake or a crash from the Chinese or Koreans to finish in the top-2.
That is exactly what happened.
Involving four teams and 16 total skaters, the relay is as exciting to watch, as it is confusing. Each member of a four-women team completes a lap or two before tagging in another teammate. And on and on it goes until 27 laps are completed around the tiny oval.
St-Gelais started the race for the Canadians, who quickly settled into third place, as the Chinese and Koreans fought for the lead. The Americans, who ended up winning a bronze, fell well behind of the pack.
As the race wore on, the Chinese and Koreans bumped and jostled for position around the oval. And though Korea actually won the race, the team was disqualified shortly after.
The night started just as well as it ended for Canada’s women.
Prior to competing in the relay, Tania Vicent, Kalyna Roberge and Jessica Gregg all qualified for Friday’s 1,000-metre quarterfinal. The individual event is not the ladies’ strongest distance. But it was a nice warm-up, considering that all three were racing in the relay about an hour later.
“Three girls in the 1,000 metres is better for the team,” said Cros. “It should help us relax.”
Earlier in the night, Canada’s Charles Hamelin, Olivier Jean and François-Louis Tremblay all qualified for tomorrow’s individual 500-metre quarterfinal.
Hamelin, who is ranked first in the event, will be looking for redemption after being twice shutout of winning a medal at these Games. Last night, he set an Olympic record to win his heat. But shortly after, Tremblay, who won a silver medal in this distance at the 2006 Olympics, bettered the time.
National Post
mtraikos@nationalpost.com
The full schedule for short track speed skating is (all times are in Pacific Standard Time Zone):
Wednesday, February 17
Saturday, February 20
Wednesday, February 24
Friday, February 26
Short track speed skating and figure skating competitions are being held at the Pacific Coliseum, on Vancouver’s East Side. Built in 1968, the Pacific Coliseum has a seating capacity of 14,000, and used to be the home of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team.
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