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Post by Laura (Lori) on Oct 6, 2009 22:05:51 GMT -8
Well, I tried and tried to 'capture' the main pic of Jessica and the other 3, but to no avail - I really do like the sweater she was modeling! -------------------------------------- On another note, here's an interesting Canadian article from the weekend of our Olympic Trials: One eye is on U.S. track fightBy ALISON KORN - Sept 11, 2009 As Canada's Olympic short-track speedskaters prepare to leave today for the first two World Cups of the season, they're keeping a wary eye on the U.S. team selection drama playing out this week south of the border. At the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, flashy American Apolo Anton Ohno beat Canuck Francois-Louis Tremblay of Montreal for gold in the 500 metres. Since then, times have changed. Ohno, 27, is now fighting for top rank on the U.S. team against a young upstart -- 19-year-old J.R. Celski, who won a 1,000-metre time trial Tuesday. Ohno is a five-time Olympic medallist who became famous even among non-sports fans when he won ABC's Dancing With the Stars in 2007. Celski later bested Ohno a second time Tuesday when they were paired in the four-lap time trial. Competition continues until Saturday in Marquette, Mich. "It's a little confidence boost," Celski said. "It's the first meet of the season and it doesn't even feel like I'm at a meet. "I'm not even nervous." Nerves are not a bad thing -- they show you care -- so perhaps Celski shouldn't be bragging about that just yet. Meanwhile, the Canadian veteran, Tremblay, is 29 and has three Olympic medals in his collection but didn't race at the Canadian trials in August because of an ankle injury. He was named to the 2010 Canadian Olympic team based on past results. So, how closely is Tremblay monitoring the U.S. results right now? "Yeah, we follow that," Tremblay said. "Our coach has some connections in U.S. speedskating and informs us what's going on. I don't worry about (Ohno) too much. He will improve throughout the year also." Tremblay, sounding unruffled, could just as easily have been talking about himself. As Canada's only male individual medallist from short track in Turin, he has won 14 medals in 16 World Cup races in the 500 metres over the past three years. He is also a three-time World Cup champion in the distance. By not racing the Canadian Olympic trials last month, Tremblay benefited from extra time to heal and is now going overseas in an untested state. "I have no more pain, I have no more balance problems or strength problems, it's all in the past," Tremblay said. "My shape is pretty much back, we'll see how it goes in competition." The first two World Cups are scheduled for Beijing, China, Sept. 17-20, and Seoul, Korea, Sept. 24-27. Though the U.S. selection may be the most intriguing foreign team news for the Canadians to keep tabs on at the moment, their key rivals also include Korea and China. But since the other countries' selections aren't as transparent, the Canadians don't yet know whom they'll face on the starting line. Canadian pride is at stake. While the national team's practice sessions used to feature athletes wearing a colourful assortment of other nations' skin suits that they'd traded for after competition, those days are over. Speed Skating Canada no longer allows its athletes to trade gear or wear other countries' stuff, even in practice. "More and more skaters always came with more and more skin suits and it was interesting to see who had the coolest one," Tremblay said. "It was fun to do that. Everybody now skates with Canada gear in training and practice, just to make sure that we don't look like Koreans or Italians." There's no mistaking who these Canadians are. It's now time for the competition. --------------------------------------- I remember a photo back on Ohnozone.net of Olivier Jean in a USA skinsuit - I think he got it from Travis Jayner(?). I'm sorry to see the skinsuit-trading custom gone, 'cause it seemed really unique. Leave it to the bureaucracy to take the fun out of things.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Oct 6, 2009 23:05:10 GMT -8
Ask and ye shall receive - thanks! Jessica is third from left...
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Oct 22, 2009 12:38:20 GMT -8
Posting this in both 'The Italians' and 'Our Canadian Friends': Will there be an Orléans athlete in Vancouver? by Dan Plouffe - Oct 22, 2009 See the complete article at: www.eastottawa.ca/article-391854-Will-there-be-an-Orleans-athlete-in-Vancouver.html... The Orléans athlete who actually stands the best chance at competing in Vancouver is short-track speedskater Nicolas Bean – but he won’t be sporting red and white. Instead, the 22-year-old former Gloucester Concordes star would wearing a deep blue skinsuit for Team Italy.
Bean was able to find a solution to the problem of being just one of many talented athletes in Canada. He took advantage of his ancestry and acquired dual Canadian-Italian citizenship a couple years ago.
After the first two World Cup races of the year, Bean is tied with the other top Italian skater for 13th in the world rankings for the 1,500 metres. The Italian relay team is also ranked fourth, with eight spots available for the Olympics.
Should Bean replicate those results in the next two World Cups – the only ones that count towards Olympic qualifying – he’ll be on his way to Vancouver.
Of course, that’s when Bean would run into the other Canadians that were higher than him on the depth chart, but there’s no doubt he’s already proven he’s one of the best in the world.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Nov 2, 2009 20:15:54 GMT -8
I wasn't sure where to put this - it could have gone on the World Cup 3 thread, or the Charles Hamelin thread... Hamelin says South Korea still the team to beat By Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press / November 2, 2009MONTREAL - Charles Hamelin doesn't have Ahn Hyun-Soo to chase anymore, but there will be plenty of other fast South Koreans to beat at a World Cup short-track speedskating meet this week.
And some Chinese and Americans, too, as the top skaters from 35 countries gather for the four-day event that starts Thursday at the Maurice Richard Arena, which is the Canadian team's national training centre.Read the entire article (with a nice pic of Prince Charles ;D) at: www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=18716.html--------------------------------- And another one: Canada's short-trackers aim to send message in Montreal By Sean Gordon, The Globe and Mail / November 2, 2009"The idea is to announce to the rest of the world that we intend to put on a show at the Games," men's long-distance specialist Guillaume Bastille said...
..."It's a chance for us to perfect our strategies and work on our race technique," (Kalyna) Roberge said. "But the objective is Vancouver. We don't want to show too much, it will be better for us later if they underestimate us." Read the entire article at: www.ctvolympics.ca/short-track-skating/news/newsid=18745.html
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Post by aaosmts19 on Nov 14, 2009 8:56:01 GMT -8
Charles Hamelin at the WC3 in Montreal. He ruled the weekend! And we were right there with him: Apolo and Jeff taking 2nd and 3rd respectively in the men's 500. Would someone be kind enough to tell us who this is? Charles and Apolo watch the action before stepping onto the ice;
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Post by mtnme on Nov 14, 2009 20:29:35 GMT -8
It may be Marianne St-Gelais. Hard to tell with the helmet and glasses and all. I'll have to check to see if I kept the paper with the helmet numbers just to make sure.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 21, 2010 9:51:40 GMT -8
Canada-US rivalry intensifies as Olympics approachBy david crary, AP National Writer Wednesday, January 20, 2010 NEW YORK (AP) — In the history of the Winter Games, Canada has won 119 medals. The United States has taken home 216. Last time the Olympics were in Canada, no athlete from the host country ever heard "O Canada" from the top of the medal podium. When the games were in Salt Lake City eight years ago, "The Star-Spangled Banner" played 10 times at medal ceremonies. Enough's enough, the Canadians are saying. Read the entire article at: wintergames.ap.org/story.aspx?st=id&id=96d0fea8e267417b91489197b726612b
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Feb 1, 2010 1:24:10 GMT -8
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Post by mtnme on Mar 31, 2010 10:17:22 GMT -8
Some general Olympic photos. I'll get the individual pics on the proper threads later... 1 2 Charles Hamelin waits to take the ice 3 Flou and Travis 4 Relay final. Canada, Korea and the US 5 Jubilation! Gold for Canada! 6 Apolo Congratulates Flou, as Charles looks on. 7 Charles gets his own congrats. This time after the relay sure looked like 'thanks for the memories' to me from Apolo, as he went around the rink and shook hands with every single skater he had ever competed against. End of an Era... 8 Top Row- The Gold Medalists: Olivier Jean (Jamaicanadian), Charles Hamelin, brother Francois Hamelin and Guillaume Bastille (isn't that a great name? It just rolls off the tongue) ...where's Flou? Bottom Row: JR Celski, Jordan Malone and Travis Jayner- The Bronze Medalists 9 10 11 ...there's Flou! Guillaume Bastille, Charles Hamelin, Francois Hamelin, Olivier Jean and Francois Louis Tremblay 12 13 14 15
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Apr 15, 2010 18:06:55 GMT -8
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jun 17, 2010 14:24:01 GMT -8
Will 14-year-old Canadian Mitchell McCullough be one to watch in the coming years? Who knows? 2011 Kelowna games ramping upby Wayne Moore / Castanet / June 4, 2010 www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/54967/2011-Kelowna-games-ramping-upPhoto Credit: Wayne MooreThe world has officially been invited to what organizers believe will be one of the largest International Children's Winter Games ever held. The games are set for Kelowna January 26 to 31, 2011. Games chair Heather Schneider says invitations have now been sent out to more than 150 cities from 57 countries. Only cities who have previously hosted a Children's summer or winter games, or those confirmed to host an event in the future are extended an invitation. Schneider says there is room for 700 athletes age 12 to 15 and she expects that number will be reached. "We are also expecting over 100 coaches plus delegations from each city," says Schneider. "It's an incredible opportunity to network and exchange cultures from everywhere around the world. We've invited cities from Iceland, Europe, Asia and Australia so we are really excited to welcome them here." While the invitations just went out this week, Schneider says there has already been interest shown from seven cities in Iceland. Schneider says with the games a little more than seven months away, volunteers are now being recruited. Volunteers are needed for everything from working with each sport plus opening and closing ceremonies. The 2011 games will feature seven different sports including cross country skiing, alpine skiing, snow boarding, figure skating and curling. Hockey and short track speed skating are being added for the first time. Mitchell McCullough, 14, is a Kelowna speed skater who hopes to participate in the games in 2011.
"I am really excited and I hope that lots of different countries will come and participate," says McCullough.
"I hope to build lots of relationships and friendships that will last years. I hope I will be able to talk with other athletes and coaches and learn different ways to enhance my sports career.
McCullough has been involved in speed skating, both long track and short track for seven years. He finished second in the provincials this past season and was top 15 in nationals.
He hopes next year's games will be a springboard to his ultimate goal which is to represent Canada at the Winter Olympics. Games organizers also announced Friday that Kelowna Olympian Kelsey Serwa will serve as an ambassador to the games. "When things come up like this I have a hard time saying no because I want to see kids grow upon that competitive lifestyle," says Serwa. "It teaches you so much and sports is a great leader in life. I think it greatly influences someone in how they are going to turn out later down the road." Serwa says the games is an excellent opportunity for Kelowna to show the world what the city has. Ironically, Serwa will be competing at a World Cup ski-cross event in Aspen, Colorado when the games are in Kelowna. People wishing to volunteer for the games can get more information from the International Children's Games website, www.kelowna2011.com.
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Post by mtnme on Jul 10, 2010 8:57:01 GMT -8
I originally posted this video on Ice & Times, and was heartbroken when it was nuked off of youtube soon after. I'm happy to say, it's back. Breathtakingly majestic and touchingly heartfelt all at once, this love letter to Canada brings tears to your eyes. I'm so glad it's not lost to posterity. Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To AmericansGeography has made us neighbors
History has made us friends
Economics has made us partners
and Necessity has made us allies
...those who nature has so joined together, let no man put asunder.
President John F. Kennedy
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jul 10, 2010 14:49:24 GMT -8
I remember when I first saw this on the Olympics broadcast, and yes, it did bring tears to my eyes - thank you for making the effort to find it... I Canada!
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Sept 9, 2010 17:24:42 GMT -8
The country girl in me has to love any newspaper called 'The Moose Jaw Times Herald'... Women's short-track speedskating team to have more new faces than men's squadMoose Jaw Times Herald / September 9th, 2010 MONTREAL - The Canadian short-track speedskating squad is getting a partial makeover. While the men's team is expected to stay largely the same this season, the women's will have a different look, partly because of Tania Vicent's retirement and Kalyna Roberge's decision to take a year off. At the ripe old age of 20, Marianne St-Gelais is suddenly a veteran. Read More: www.mjtimes.sk.ca/Canada---World/Sports/2010-09-09/article-1738268/Womens-short-track-speedskating-team-to-have-more-new-faces-than-mens-squad/1Tags: Tania Vicent / Kalyna Roberge / Marianne St-Gelais / Marie-Eve Drolet / Charles Hamelin / Short Track Speedskating
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Sept 9, 2010 18:35:39 GMT -8
Related to my post above - here are the entries for the Canadian Fall World Cup Trials, Sept 17-19 in Calgary. Tony Chung is going to this competition, so check his www.twitter.com/shorttrackHD site for commentary! I'm pretty sure this list is in order of rank: MEN: Hamelin, Charles Jean, Olivier Bastille, Guillaume Tremblay, François-Louis Hamelin, François Beaulieu, Rémi McFarlane, Liam Cournoyer, Vincent Gilday, Michael Blais-Dufour, Guillaume Boisvert-Lacroix, Alex Chiasson-Poirier, Gabriel Miller, Dustin Gélinas-B, Antoine Gagnon, Allyn Fortin, Maxime ALT 1: St-Jean, Alexandre ALT 2: Watson, Rob ALT 3: Cournoyer, Charles LADIES: Gregg, Jessica St-Gelais, Marianne Maltais, Valérie Hewitt, Jessica Mendes-Campeau, Marie-Andrée Drolet, Marie-Eve Waddell, Gabrielle Marceau, Laurie Do-Duc, Andrea Truchon, Caroline Lambert, Valérie Bourgela, Sabrina Shoebridge, Kristy Bradette, Kassandra Mascitto, Cynthia Richmond, Gillian ALT 1: Paquet-Poulin, Catherine ALT 2: Pacanins, Ana ALT 3: Gilday, Jill
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