Maritimes represented Saturday in Olympics
Bronze for Nova Scotian, disappointment for New Brunswicker and Islander
CBC News
Posted: Aug 11, 2012 2:37 PM AT
Last Updated: Aug 11, 2012 7:14 PM AT
Nova Scotia's Mark de Jonge nabbed a bronze medal Saturday. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
The Maritimes are well represented Saturday during the second-to-last day of the Olympic Games in London.
Kayaker Mark de Jonge won bronze in the K1 200-metre race Saturday morning.
The 28-year-old from Halifax won both his heat and semifinal Friday before today's third-place finish on the last day of canoe-kayak competition at Eton Dorney.
He trains at the Maskwa Aquatic Club in Kearney Lake and Ian Scott, commodore of that club, says up to 400 people were there this morning to cheer him on.
"If you can imagine, it's a 30-second race, so it begins loud, it ramps up to louder and then it just becomes explosive at the end," Scott said.
"It was a nail-biter, Mark had the centre lane, which is normally considered to be the best position … so we were confident he could do it."
De Jonge's Olympic dream was almost derailed in April when he broke a finger.
New Brunswick disappointment
Meanwhile, New Brunswick's only hope for a medal in London fell short today.
Catharine Pendrel, who lives in Kamloops, B.C., but grew up in Harvey Station, near Fredericton, was racing in the cross-country mountain bike event.
Pendrel is the reigning world champion and was seen as a strong contender for gold, but finished ninth.
Pendrel got big cheers from the hundreds of people watching the race on big screens at several spots in the small village. People in Harvey were in good spirits and chanted for their hometown hero even as she finished three and a half minutes off the pace.
The crowd even cheered when France's Julie Bresset crossed the finish line to claim gold.
"I think all of us would have hoped for a different result, but it's a wonderful contest and Catharine I think did the community proud," said John Robison, who was at Masonic Hall cheering her on.
Pendrel was the only New Brunswicker at the games in London.
P.E.I. disappointment
New Haven native Jared Connaughton's shot at a medal as a member of the Canadian relay team ended in tears as Connaughton stepped on the line of his running lane, disqualifying Canada.
Jamaica won gold, the U.S. took silver and Trinidad & Tobago moved up from fourth to third place.
Athletics Canada appealed the disqualification, but the decision to keep Canada off the medal podium was upheld.
The team finished in the third-fastest time overall in the men's 4x100-metre relay qualifier Friday.
Connaughton apologized on Twitter.
"I'm so sorry everyone. My heart is broken. I let my team down. I'm sorry."
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