Vancouver Now - FEBRUARY 12 to 28, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Sports

February 2010 Archives

Stories provided by  
National Post

To Iginla, Crosby's call sounded like gold

"Iggy!" It's a scream Jarome Iginla has heard many times in his career. But never this loudly, never with so much urgency.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Memories: Heartbreak and triumph

For all the moments that made you so damned happy you wanted to cry -- the triumph of Alex Bilodeau and his brother Frederic, the delirium of Marianne St-Gelais as she watched her boyfriend Charles Hamelin win gold, the pure animal joy of Jon Montgomery -- what I will remember is the moments that made me want to weep. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Memories: The strength of a lion

It happened in a blink. A skier was skittering down a steep and icy slope at Whistler Olympic Park and disappeared into the woods.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Memories: A face in the crowd

My favourite memories are the ones where I got to put down my press pass and become a fan.
Continue reading this post »

The quotable Vancouver Games

The Vancouver Games gave 17 days of intense competition, plenty of reasons to celebrate, more than a handful of heartbreaks and, finally, mountains upon mountains of quotes that will live forever.
Continue reading this post »

Gold-medal game was worth the steep price of admission

The fans that packed Canada Hockey Place had a lot in common with one another. Most were born in this country. Most grew up playing hockey. And most had gone into their closet Sunday morning and purposely picked out something that was red-and-white.
Continue reading this post »

Jonathan 'Taves' causing confusion on the Internet

Canadians are used to mouth-twisting names. We know it's U-clue-let, and Newfoundland, not Newfoundland. 

Continue reading this post »

Olympians return to their day jobs

So what do some of our gold medal winners do when they're not owning the podium? Below, a summary of some gilt-tinged day jobs. 
Continue reading this post »

Pack your swimsuit and sunscreen for Sochi

Vancouver's less-than-wintry weather was the subject of much snivelling and snow-shifting throughout the Olympics. Its not-so-frozen precipitation even caused the cancellation of 8,000 tickets for snowboard cross, at a $50 a pop loss for VANOC organizers.
Continue reading this post »

Katarina Witt acts like 'spoiled snob' on Whistler train

She might've been the ice queen at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, but icy behavior by gold medal figure skater Katarina Witt failed to impress her Alberta hosts last week.
Continue reading this post »

Jay Leno declares his love for curling

NBC, for the most part, has been very complimentary of Canada as a host nation of the Olympics.
Continue reading this post »

Might want to make sure it's actually Ryan Miller next time

What should a television broadcaster do when someone calls claiming to be Team USA goalie Ryan Miller? Put him on the air -- live!
Continue reading this post »

Simon Whitfield provides exciting Olympics commentary

Undoubtedly, Simon Whitfield is one of the best Summer Olympians Canada has ever produced.
Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Women's 3,000-metre relay

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.


Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Men's 5,000-metre relay, 2002

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.


Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Kerrin Lee-Gartner

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.


Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Kathy Kreiner

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.


Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Nancy Greene

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.

Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Anne Heggtveit

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.

Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's 50km mass start

Here is a look at the men's 50km mass start, which starts at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Continue reading this post »

Rochette, Slovenia's Majdic win Terry Fox Award

Bronze medalists Slovenian cross-country skier Petra Majdic and Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette were named the joint recipients of the Vancouver 2010 Terry Fox Award, VANOC announced on Saturday.
Continue reading this post »

Russia has big plans for closing ceremonies

During the closing ceremonies on Sunday night, the official handover ceremony -- this time to Russia for 2014 -- two simultaneous celebrations will be shown virtually in the centre feature of the stadium
Continue reading this post »

Olympics in 140 characters or less: Day 16

There are more 100 athletes on Twitter at these Winter Olympics. These are some of the best tweets -- so far -- for Feb. 27
Continue reading this post »

Reynolds tries a little too hard in B.C. commercial

Have you ever seen someone trying to look and sound relaxed? Well, that is Ryan Reynolds in one of the B.C. tourism commercials, sounding like he could not be trying any harder to not be trying at all.
Continue reading this post »

Coach was right to pull McKeever from race

The easy decision would have been to let Brian McKeever race. The easy decision, for Dave Wood, the Canadian cross-country team coach, would have been the politically correct one to make. The easy decision would have been a disaster.
Continue reading this post »

Tsunami advisory for Vancouver may affect Olympics

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games may be the first in history to proceed under a tsunami advisory following a massive earthquake in Chile this morning. 
Continue reading this post »

A look at the candidates for Canada's closing flag-bearer

Like it or not, the Olympics are ending. The party is over. You don't have to go home, but you cannot stay in Vancouver. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's Parallel Giant Slalom

Jasey Jay Anderson gave up the snowboard-cross to focus on the parallel giant slalom this year. There's talk he might call it quits to spend more time with his family after this Olympics, so it could be his last shot at winning a gold medal in the parallel giant slalom.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's Slalom

Austria's Reinfried Herbst is riding a lot of momentum heading into the Olympic slalom event. He won two World Cup titles in January alone, and is a nine-time World Cup winner in the event.
Continue reading this post »

Canadians clean up on short track

Charles Hamelin always wanted to be a superhero. But during the first two weeks of these Olympics, it seemed like he was just average Joe without any powers. And then, when the country needed him the most, he came through and saved the day for Canada. In true superhero fashion, he even ended up with the girl.

Continue reading this post »

Owning the podium comes with a steep price

In 2003, when Vancouver 2010 was just a bid, a journalist asked then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien how the "Canadian way" might point to victory.
Continue reading this post »

Molson Canadian gets all dressed up for the Olympics

More than a few celebratory athletes have hoisted not just their Olympic medal, but an oversized bottle that looks like it should contain champagne. But it isn't Veuve Clicquot -- the bottle reads instead "Molson Canadian."
Continue reading this post »

B.C. tourism ads get help from local celebrities

Selling tourism on television is dead easy. Too easy, perhaps, especially in scenic Canada, where promotional spots always -- always -- include pristine meadow shots and spectacular sunsets. But so be it; our natural beauty is what lures most visitors. 
Continue reading this post »

'I Believe' playing the same song is overkill

I'm sure Nikki Yanofsky is a nice woman. But she is driving me batty. Her song I Believe is not just the theme song of Canada's Olympics coverage, it is the song that has permeated seemingly every moment of televised coverage of these Games. 
Continue reading this post »

Brokaw declares love for Canada with video tribute

It has been four years since American anchor Tucker Carlson dismissed Canada as a "stalker" akin to a "retarded cousin you see at Thanksgiving," and Canada has finally offered its rebuttal. 
Continue reading this post »

Peruvian competitors not in it for the medals

Surprisingly, there are also competitors who have no chance of ever being seen on a podium These amateurs, in the best sense of the word, represent countries with little, if any, tradition of winter sports and compete out of sheer cussedness.
Continue reading this post »

Canadian New Yorker writer says Canadians are not nice

Canadian New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik has scored on himself. 

Canadians are not that nice, he writes, in an article titled Vancouver -- The Big One. 
Continue reading this post »

Curling a hit on Wall Street

For people who aren't into curling, the sport has all the charm of watching paint dry. It's very calm and deliberate, and little seems to happen.
Continue reading this post »

What planet do these athletes come from?

That iciness, the steepness is so scary, so foreign to me. Who are these foolish men and women taking these incredible risks? What planet do these young people come from?
Continue reading this post »

Olympics in 140 characters or less: Day 15

There are more 100 athletes on Twitter at these Winter Olympics. These are some of the best for Feb. 26
Continue reading this post »

How does the bobsleigh get to the top of the run?

As we learned on Friday, bobsledding requires not only speed and strength, but $50,000 to $100,000 to get a bobsleigh of your very own.
Continue reading this post »

American columnists drawn to Rochette's tragic story

In terms of emotional heft, no event during these Olympics will match that of Joannie Rochette. 
Continue reading this post »

Medal count rising now that podium pressure is off

Before Canadian Olympic Committee head Chris Rudge's retraction/promise of a public inquiry on Monday afternoon, Team Canada as a whole had nine medals in nine days, including four golds.
Continue reading this post »

The national shame of some happy athletes having a little fun

Scott Stinson: Let us have a moment of sympathy for the immediate family and close relations of Gilbert Felli, who must be no fun at all to be around.
Continue reading this post »

Canada's success could take a hit at 2014 Games

Forget for a moment about owning the podium in 2010, is it possible Canada could be looking at a big tumble down the medal standings come Sochi in 2014?
Continue reading this post »

Sap-O-Meter tries to keep NBC in line

There are oh so many reasons to watch the Olympics. They provide diehard sports fans around-the-clock coverage of athletic events
Continue reading this post »

Canadian women's on-ice beer and cigar party raises IOC ire

Apparently, Canadian women aren't considered very ladylike when they break out the cigars and booze in honour of winning gold.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's Pursuit

The Canadian team is the titan everyone else will aim to beat. Led by Kristina Grove, Christine Nesbitt and Brittany Schussler, they hold the world record in women's pursuit, set on Dec. 6, 2009.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's Pursuit

The Canadian team has a good chance to land on the podium. The reigning silver medalists from Turin in 2006, the team is now composed of Denny Morrison, Lucas Makowsky and Mathieu Giroux, and they're very familiar with the Richmond Oval. Home ice advantage could pay off.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's Parallel Giant Slalom

This event is considered wide open, with the oddsmakers barely favouring Nicolien Sauerbreij of the Netherlands (7/2) over Germany's Amelie Kober (4/1) and Fraenzi Maegert-Kohli (5/1), who are 1-2-4 in the World Cup standings.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's Slalom

Germany's Maria Riesch may sit atop the World Cup points list in this event, but it would be foolish to ignore Austria's Marlies Schild. The bookies have her at 2/1 to win this event, having taken bronze four years ago in Turin. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Four-man bobsled

Andre Lange will be tough to overcome in this one -- the German captured gold in Turin in both the four-man and two-man events -- but Steven Holcomb hopes to put up a good fight. 
Continue reading this post »

Korea's Lee looks for golden hat trick

Many years ago, he was the Olympic champion's first coach. That was back when both were living in Seoul. When Lee Jung-Su was just a skinny little kid in the first grade who did not know a thing about short track speedskating. And when Vancouver was just another name on a map.
Continue reading this post »

Popular sports columnists take a shine to Canada's Bernard

As these Olympic Games wind down, the talk of who should carry the Canadian flag at the closing ceremonies will soon commence.
Continue reading this post »

Canadian women handling Olympic pressure better than men

After all the early hand-wringing about Canadian performance in Vancouver's Winter Games, the latest pattern of results has produced a separate storyline of success -- one that stars the nation's female competitors.
Continue reading this post »

Last chance for Canadian men to reach short-track podium

The day after the Canadian men's short-track speedskating team was shut out of a winning medal in the 1,000 metres, Charles Hamelin and Francois-Louis Tremblay entered a ping-pong tournament in the athletes' village.
Continue reading this post »

Jamaica's Kerr a rare find at these Games

The one-man Jamaican Winter Olympic team, Errol Kerr finished ninth in the men's ski cross earlier this week, which is an impressive accomplishment, considering a) he comes from a country that has never seen snow and b) trains sporadically in the U.S. on a shoe-string budget and without any government funding, and c) looks more like your typical laid-back, beer-chugging poker buddy than a high performance athlete. Which I find thrilling.
Continue reading this post »

Some Olympic athletes are a tad more liberal than others

As usual, the athletes' off-duty activities are coming in for comment, though there's been nothing so far to match the furore created by snow boarder Ross Rebagliati at the Nagano Winter Games. He risked losing his gold medal after minute traces of marijuana were found in his urine.

Continue reading this post »

Can I interest you in a heli-ski facility, Shaun?

For Immediate Release: "Inspired by Olympics to own part of BC skiing? Luxurious heli-ski facility in Cariboo for sale."
Continue reading this post »

As British hopes fade, so too does their coverage

After an initial flurry of VANOC bashing, coverage of the Games by British media has dwindled, along with the performances of the country's athletes. So far, the Brits have one solitary medal: Amy Williams won the women's skeleton, the country's first individual gold medal at a Winter Olympics. 
Continue reading this post »

Russia's epic collapse draws plenty of notice, naval-gazing

The location was Squaw Valley, Calif., a one-chairlift, two rope-tow resort near Lake Tahoe. The date -- Feb. 28, 1960 -- should be engraved on the hearts of all Canadian hockey fans. 
Continue reading this post »

The world is watching the Snow Leopard

There are record 82 countries at the 21st Winter Olympics, including competitors from several countries not normally considered winter sports nations. Think the Cayman Islands, Ghana, Morocco and Peru. 
Continue reading this post »

Women's hockey hardly Games' only dubious sport

Depending on your perspective on such things, Thursday night's Canada-U.S. gold medal women's hockey game is either a much-anticipated powerhouse battle, or the merciful end to a farcical tournament that has no business in the Olympics.
Continue reading this post »

Sorry state of affairs in Vancouver

What is it with these Olympics and all of the apologies? It's oh-so Canadian, and oh-so unnecessary.
Continue reading this post »

Norwegian skier walks away with Quote of the Games

Every day the IOC and VANOC release Quotes of the Day. Mostly, it ranges from vaguely interesting to "They are not going to be easy to stop, I'll tell you that," from Russian goaltender Evgeni Nabokov after he let in six of the seven Canadian goals in a 7-3 loss. You think so, doctor?
Continue reading this post »

Olympics in 140 characters or less: Day 14

There are more than 100 Olympians on Twitter at these Winter Games. These are some the best tweets from Feb. 25.
Continue reading this post »

Americans attempt to understand the mysterious curling world

It would appear Americans are wiping snow from their eyes and discovering the wonderful world of curling
Continue reading this post »

Alberta finds Olympic success in great train robbery

In the heart of Olympic country, they staged the Great Train Robbery. The plan was hatched quietly two years ago -- and by the time Vancouver figured out what was happening, the black Stetsons of Alberta owned a B.C. train just when the locals needed it most. 
Continue reading this post »

Bobsled is an expensive hobby, kids

Rink rat parents sick of overflowing hockey bags stinking up the station wagon and taking over the basement, take comfort: at least your kids aren't bobsledders. 
Continue reading this post »

Japanese bobsledders get help from the spirit world

Traditionally, ghosts in Japan do not have feet, something Manami Hino might have considered when ordering a design for her bobsled.
Continue reading this post »

You really can't escape the mittens

By now every Olympic fan on the face of this planet is aware of the red mitten craze surrounding the Vancouver Games -- heck, even Oprah found out about them. And so, too, did the stately lions that guard the Lions Gate Bridge. 
Continue reading this post »

Canadian short track team takes silver by lying low

The strategy was simple. In a 3,000-metre relay race featuring short track speedskating's biggest rivals, the Canadian women team's objective was to stay out of the way of the Koreans and Chinese and wait for the carnage to unfold.
Continue reading this post »

Weir decides to speak up after all

Flamboyant faux-fur wearing fashionista, reality TV star, quote machine and oh-by-the-way top flight U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir was back at it Wednesday. No, not skating. Talking.
Continue reading this post »

Former Cup rival thinks Canada should give Brodeur a break

J.S. Giguere has a few words for those who are criticizing benched Team Canada goalie Martin Brodeur. 
Continue reading this post »

Emergency shipment of condoms headed to Olympic athletes

Rowdy curling crowds; spontaneous street parties; public drunkeness. You don't have to look far for evidence that the crowds at Winter Games in Vancouver know how to have a good time.
Continue reading this post »

McIvor brings fleeting joy to 'Loserville'

Some call it Loserville: the subterranean international media centre for unaccredited 2010 Games journalists.
Continue reading this post »

Grabovski calls Olympic incident 'my agent's problem'

Injured Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski enjoyed his time in the Olympic city of Vancouver, for the most part.
Continue reading this post »

Olympics in 140 characters or less: Day 13

More than 100 Olympians are tweeting from this Olympic Games. These are some of the best ones from Feb. 24.
Continue reading this post »

Crosby probably wouldn't get penalty shot call against Russia

"It's just math," Canada hockey coach Mike Babcock said after he selected Sidney Crosby to take a penalty shot that had initially been awarded to Rick Nash. At the time, there was no argument against Babcock's decision.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic athletes Tweet their support for Rochette

Throughout the Olympics' many triumphs and tragedies, we hear a lot about community
Continue reading this post »

Speed skater Sven Kramer gets his comeuppance

After landing a gold medal for the Dutch, speed skater Sven Kramer was all attitude. One of the most famous athletes in the Netherlands, he apparently expected everyone in North America to know his reputation, too
Continue reading this post »

History on Canada's side for game against Russia

On its face, Canada's 1-8 record versus Russia/U.S.S.R/Unified Team in men's Olympic hockey does not look good for the country playing at home in tonight's quarter-final

Continue reading this post »

Canadian red could be a boon -- or a bust: study

Athletes who wear bright shades of red at the Olympics may have a distinct advantage -- or disadvantage, depending on the sport, according to a new study
Continue reading this post »

Team Canada much different than it was in 2006

There are many key differences between Team Canada in 2010 compared to the outfit that disappointed by losing 2-0 to Russian in the quarter-finals at the 2006 Olympics in Turin
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's 5,000-metre speed skating

The Czech Republic's Martina Sablikova has been on fire in Vancouver. The 22 year old surprised everyone with a bronze medal in the 1,500 metres to go with her gold-medal performance in the 3,000. And she hasn't even raced her specialty yet -- the 5,000 metres. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's 500-metre short track

Hopes for a Canadian medal here are high, but these have not been Charles Hamelin's Olympics. Hamelin is the reigning world champion and ranked first in the World Cup standings in this discipline, but he has failed to medal in his first two races.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's 1,000-metre short track

This event has been hyped as a clash of two neighbours. Chinese superstar Meng Wang has made it clear her nation has one primary goal: to beat the South Korean team.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's giant slalom

Kathrin Zettel will be a heavy favourite in Wednesday's event. The Austrian has won World Cup gold in the event seven times -- most recently last month -- and is currently ranked second in points. Defending world champion Kathrin Hoelzl should also be in contention, while two-time World Cup winner Tina Maze has an outside shot.
Continue reading this post »

Iginla finds momentum with Staal, Crosby

Jarome Iginla has moved like a Yo-Yo through the lineup during these Olympics. But after scoring twice in an 8-2 win against Germany on Tuesday night, the Team Canada winger might have finally found some stability alongside Sidney Crosby and Eric Staal.
Continue reading this post »

Moyse, Humphries lead bobsled race, but don't tell them

Don't talk to Heather Moyse about track records, start times, first place, second place, 10th place, being on the podium -- being anything, really -- because all she always wants to be is better than she was the run before.
Continue reading this post »

Former major leaguer's family reaches out to mourning Georgians

A novel solution to dealing with overpriced and hard-to-get sports swag may end up helping to honour fallen Olympian Nodar Kumaritashvili.
Continue reading this post »

Canada can't afford mistake in short track relay

There were no Drew Barrymore or Ellen Page sightings at the Pacific Coliseum Tuesday. But all the other elements of the 2009 roller derby film Whip It seemed to be accounted for as the Canadian women's relay team practiced Tuesday.
Continue reading this post »

British bobsledder has need for speed

Most bobsledders will admit it: they are a little bit mad. They get a rush out of going fast. But before they were bobsledders, most of them were something else, and many of them still are. John Jackson, of Great Britain, is a corporal in the Royal Marines. The first nutty thing he did in his life was enlist at age 19.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Tent City a visible reminder of Vancouver's dark side

His name is John, and he has what he calls an "addictions problem." It cost him his carpet-laying job at a swank new hotel and condominium development downtown. "I showed up wasted," he says. "I didn't get paid and I lost my apartment, and now I'm here."
Continue reading this post »

Return of rain isn't slowing party in Vancouver

Well, drat. The weather people were bang on and rain returned to Vancouver on Tuesday, on schedule. Up at Cypress Bowl -- elevation 1,175 metres -- that meant snow, for once. Or at least sleet
Continue reading this post »

Canada's definition of success has changed

Losing is less complicated than winning, as failure is a lot easier than success. With winning comes greater expectations, while losing exists in a vacuum. For what seems like forever, Canadians were used to losing, but the expectations of 2010 have forced us to looked beyond. Whether this is entirely a good thing is another matter.
Continue reading this post »

The Olympics in 140 characters or less: Day 12

More than 100 athletes at these Winter Olympics are on Twitter. These are some of the best tweets from Feb. 23.
Continue reading this post »

Some suggested alternatives to 'Own the Podium'

So Canadian Olympic Committee came out and admitted the obvious on Monday, that the "Own the Podium" program would not meet its stated goal of leading the medal standings.
Continue reading this post »

End of Olympic experience comes quickly for some

Yulia Livinskaya of Russia just barely qualified for the first-ever women's ski cross Olympic finals. Her qualifying time of 1:22.83 landed in 32nd place -- in other words, she was the last skier to make the cut.
Continue reading this post »

Men's hockey tickets range from pricey to ridiculous

Officially, tickets to the men's gold medal Olympic hockey game will set you back from $350 to $775. (As for the women, there's not even an attempt at gender-equal pricing -- the most expensive tickets for their hockey gold medal match are a mere $325.) 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic fashion coveted for moments, despised forever

Canadians are known for making headlines at the Winter Olympics with their accessories, but this is the first games in recent memory that it hasn't been for our headgear.
Continue reading this post »

Putting 10,000 metres in perspective

So a bunch of Norwegian, Dutch and American skaters, along with a Russian, a Pole, a Korean, an Italian, a Frenchman and one Japanese are going to take to the ice today at the Richmond Skating Oval for the men's 10,000 metre race. But just how long is 10,000 metres?
Continue reading this post »

American Idol no Olympic champion

Last Wednesday, NBC's Olympic coverage accomplished a feat no other U.S. broadcast had done in six years. It defeated American Idol in the ratings
Continue reading this post »

Will grief help or hinder Rochette?

Coming off the thrill of a Canadian gold in ice dancing last night, all eyes will be on Canadian Joannie Rochette as she performs in the ladies' figure skating free skate after the sudden death of her mother
Continue reading this post »

Russian ice dancers stun with bizarre costumes

Much has been said about the bizarre aboriginal-themed costumes worn by Russian ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin the other night. If they had any hope of erasing the searing image from fans' minds with their free dance last night, they completely squandered it
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's figure skating

This event is very much a showdown between two historical rivals, Japan and South Korea.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's ski cross

While Canada's Ashley MacIvor holds second place on the World Cup circuit, she is still the defending world champion. Ophelie David from France, meanwhile, is a six-time ski cross World Cup title-holder. MacIvor is constantly battling with David for top spot on the international podiums, and that battle reaches a climax on the Olympic hill.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's 10,000-metre speed skating

If people didn't know who Sven Kramer was before, they do now (thanks to the hilarious video of the Dutchman asking an NBC reporter if she was stupid). Kramer holds the world record in the 10,000-metre race, which he set in March of 2007. He's also won gold in the last three world championships for this event.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's two-man bobsled

Home-track advantage should play into the hands of Kaillie Humphries and Helen Upperton, especially in an event won and lost by fractions of a second.
Continue reading this post »

Hamelin confident his luck will turn

Charles Hamelin looked like he belonged on a Hudson Bay Company billboard ad. An official Team Canada bomber hat was on his head. A Team Canada vest was being worn over a Team Canada hooded sweatshirt. And a pair of baggy Team Canada sweatpants hung from his waist. 
Continue reading this post »

Hockey blogger snares Olympic dream job

Of the hundreds of media personnel in Vancouver to cover the Olympics, Steve Glynn might be the most unlikely one who made the trip.
Continue reading this post »

Canada loses to the U.S. again, and syrup-sucking will follow

Stephen Colbert, it turns out, was right to dub Canadians as a "syrup-sucking" population of "iceholes." The pseudo-pundit whose satire takes a decidedly south of the border jingoistic bent just missed out noting it would be the U.S. ski jumping team to make it so.
Continue reading this post »

Grabovski not injured in alleged fight, but Burke still not pleased

Brian Burke says Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mikhail Grabovski did not re-injure his broken wrist when he was engaged in an alleged street fight during these Olympics. Which doesn't mean the Leafs general manager is overly pleased, though.
Continue reading this post »

Raptors coach likes Team Canada's odds

The Canadian men's hockey team is in the scenario that most fans feared the most. First, they will have to play an extra game, against Germany, because they failed to win their pool. After that (assuming a victory), Russia awaits in a quarter-final. If Canada can pull out that game, a match-up against Sweden seems likely in the next round. Should Canada make the finals, it could very well be the United States, if not Finland.
Continue reading this post »

To medal is OK, to podium, not so much

When Apolo Ohno won his U.S.-record seventh medal, he told the media, "This is my third Olympic games and there is no other athlete here competing who has gone to three Olympic games and medaled every time."
Continue reading this post »

Those mittens really are everywhere

Is this the coolest statue in Vancouver? Damned right it is.
Continue reading this post »

Passenger takes wheel of Olympic shuttle after driver dies

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that a passenger seized control of an Olympic shuttle bus after the 71-year-old driver suffered an apparent heart attack.
Continue reading this post »

Bookies still betting public backs Canadian hockey team

Some home team boosters may be feeling less than optimistic after Team Canada's 5-3 loss to the United States in preliminary play of the men's hockey tournament at the Vancouver Olympics. But there is still one group that believes in Canada's men's hockey team.
Continue reading this post »

There's more out there than red mitts, Olympic shoppers

The line begins to form at six o'clock each morning, three hours before opening. Hudson's Bay Company shoppers, sacrificing sleep for a shot at pricey 2010 Olympic Winter Games paraphernalia.
Continue reading this post »

Vancouver's warm winter brings unexpected growth

There is peace and quiet in Vancouver. Hard to believe during these frantic days of the Olympic games. But in the city's residential neighbourhoods, even those close to the downtown hurly-burly, life proceeds calmly. Slowly.
Continue reading this post »

Russian skater Plushenko awards himself platinum medal

There are sore losers and then there's Russian figure skater Evgeni Plushenko. Plushenko, the 2006 men's figure skating gold medalist, lost out to American figure skater Evan Lysacek.
Continue reading this post »

Sweden's curlers are pure metal

Curling is cool, right? As proud Canadians, we believe this. We love it when people from other nations suddenly discover our game of real-world ice chess at a hundred paces, and the Olympics is great for that.
Continue reading this post »

Pregnancy not erasing Olympic dreams

For Olympic athletes, no such thing as a pregnant pause. The media at the Vancouver Games have been obsessed with pregnant (and recently pregnant) athletes. 
Continue reading this post »

Cue the Royal Commission on goaltending for Canada

Once upon a time, specifically following a loss to the U.S at the inaugural hockey World Cup in 1996 and a medal-less performance at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, Canada had the equivalent of a government inquiry about hockey.
Continue reading this post »

The Olympics in 140 characters or less

More than 100 athletes at these Winter Olympics are on Twitter. These are a selection of the best tweets from Monday, Feb. 22.
Continue reading this post »

U.S. Devils knew how to take advantage of Brodeur

As Martin Brodeur charged out of his net and tried to bat a flying puck out of the air like he were Barry Bonds, it appeared as though he were swinging for the fences. Or, at the very least, the stands. But American defenceman Brian Rafalski, who spent seven seasons as Brodeur's teammate with the New Jersey Devils, knew better.
Continue reading this post »

Jagr's mistake proves costly against Russia

Jaromir Jagr said he should have known better. Veteran players are not supposed to try and deke through the neutral zone with their heads down. 
Continue reading this post »

Pressure of the podium could be too much to handle

Perhaps Own The Podium has put undue pressure on Canadian athletes. If the Canadian team continues to struggle, that topic will be debated fiercely.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's aerials

Men's aerials presents a strong stable of interesting athletes to watch when the event gets underway.
Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Men's 5,000-metre relay, 1998

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.
Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Clara Hughes

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.
Continue reading this post »

Ohno ready to add to medal haul

Apolo Anton Ohno did not come to Vancouver looking to break any records. He just wanted to win some more medals. Gold ones. Silver ones. Even bronze ones. 

Continue reading this post »

Turin's Olympic track also considered dangerous

Complaints about a dangerous luge track are nothing new. During the 2006 Games in Turin, sliding athletes also talked about the dangerous nature of that track.
Continue reading this post »

Researchers say 1988 was Olympics' best year

Running a mile in less than four minutes used to be considered, by many, physiologically impossible. However, in the nearly 56 years since Roger Bannister did four laps of the Iffley Road Track in Oxford, U.K. in 3 min, 59.4 seconds, runners have whittled the world record down to three minutes, 43.13 seconds. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympics in 140 characters or less

More than 100 athletes are tweeting during this Winter Olympics. Here are some that stood out.

Continue reading this post »

U.S. snowboarder Scotty Lago leaves Olympics after controversy

Bronze medal winning snowboarder Scotty Lago has reportedly left the Olympics after a pair of racy celebratory photos surfaced. 
Continue reading this post »

U.S. men's hockey team not short on inspiration

While Canada is getting good wishes and inspiration from virtually every Canadian, Team USA isn't without their supporters.
Continue reading this post »

One is the loneliest number

Here, the countries whose Olympic hopes rest on a single athlete.
Continue reading this post »

Canada's Olympic team defined by unlucky breaks

There has been much ink spilled over Canadians puffing out their chests more than ever during these Olympics.
Continue reading this post »

Dave Bidini: Legacy of the Games still up in the air

The Olympics are at the midway point, and still they are dancing. hile waiting to get into the Czech-Slovakia hockey game last week, a dance crew -- at least I think that's what you'd call it -- cut an enormous crop circle in the crowd before being joined by three fans
Continue reading this post »

Hockey could benefit from international exposure

When it comes to hockey Canadians get a little myopic. So it's always refreshing to see someone from a non-traditional hockey nation champion the game and try to figure out how to grow it back in their home country.
Continue reading this post »

Mexican-Austrian prince is Olympics' oldest competitor

Unlike Canadian officials, who had the tough task of selecting a flag bearer from some 205 competitors, Mexico's choice to bear its green, white and red flag was easy -- because the team is made up of just one man.
Continue reading this post »

Men's Curling: O Canada, We Hold Up Games For Thee

On Saturday I wrote about the crowd was getting a little bit too excited about curling, but that was before the impromptu rendition of "O Canada" during Kevin Martin's pivotal game against Great Britain.
Continue reading this post »

Trading in-depth coverage for 'Olympic Studs of the Day'

You have got to love how entertainment outlets cover the Olympics. First of all, there is no sport more important than figure skating.
Continue reading this post »

Oprah's affection bitten by Canada's Olympic mittens

Everyone knows Oprah's likes are big business. But the Hudson's Bay Company red Olympics mittens didn't need Oprah's help -- HBC's run of 3 million mittens is reportedly almost sold-out. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's giant slalom

American Ted Ligety has certainly established himself in recent years in this event, but can anyone rule out Austria's Benjamin Raich, the 2006 gold medallist?
Continue reading this post »

McMaster University stays close to Lumsden's heart

Jesse Lumsden is a football player first, but an Olympian here in Whistler, and the brakeman for Pierre Lueders Canada 2 sled. 
Continue reading this post »

Raptors take a back seat to short track final

About 80 minutes after the Raptors had vanquished the Wizards, the Hamelin brothers were racing in the 1,000-metre short track speed skating final. And just like that, Basketball Night in Canada had become Short Track Night In Canada.
Continue reading this post »

Only Rush's feelings hurt after Canada 1's scary crash

His hands were a little scraped up from the crash, but really, what hurt most was on the inside. What hurt most was Lyndon Rush's heart. He knew it was his fault, all his fault. He let his brakeman down.
Continue reading this post »

Hamelin's Olympic struggles continue

When Charles Hamelin was shutout of winning a medal in last week's 1,500 metres, the speedskater told Canadians not to worry. That distance, he said, was considered his weakest. Besides, the Olympics had barely begun and there were many more races where he could reach the podium. Just wait and see. Well, after two races, the wait continues.
Continue reading this post »

Canadian medal projections dropping

Nate Silver is kind of a genius. He's a predictor of all things political, with a hell of a record, and recently his project, fivethirtyeight.com, has begin to weigh in on the Olympic medal race. As of Thursday, ol' Nate had projected Canada for 31 medals, just two back of the United States.

Continue reading this post »

IOC legal squabbles hit a comedic high

Oh, to be a lawyer for the International Olympic Committee. Sure, sometimes you have to defend your bosses from charges that their rules override stuff like, say, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But boy, you're kept busy.
Continue reading this post »

Men's Hockey: Tournament scoring explained

When Canada couldn't defeat the Swiss until the shootout, they were denied a full three points for the game and had to settle for a paltry deuce, but what does that mean exactly?
Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Men's hockey, 2002

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.

Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Catriona Le May-Doan, 2002

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.

Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Catriona Le May-Doan, 1998

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.

Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Gaetan Boucher

As Canada prepares to watch its athletes go for gold at the Olympics in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12, the National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.

Continue reading this post »

Crowd getting too excited about curling

Canada narrowly eked out a victory over Denmark in Women's curling on Friday night, when Danish skip Madeleine Dupont complained she couldn't control a late shot because of the din.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's ski cross

Chris Del Bosco carries Canada's medal hopes, and he has a tale of redemption that will probably fire up the crowd
Continue reading this post »

Vancouver: Like New York City, but with mountains

Through the Olympics so far, The New York Times has fostered a strange obsession with the Canadian psyche.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's 1,500-metre short track

This being a women's short track event, the usual suspects are all here: China, South Korea and the U.S. 
Continue reading this post »

Australian broadcasters blasted for homophobic remarks

Johnny Weir certainly put on one of the more showy figure skating routines Thursday night. But his flashy costume is taking a back seat to allegedly homophobic remarks from two Australian sports broadcasters.
Continue reading this post »

Jon Montgomery shows his true Canadian side

Jon Montgomery may have been an underdog champion who triumphed to get Canada a surprise gold, but it was his actions after his blazing skeleton run that seems to have endeared him to many Canadians
Continue reading this post »

Slovenia protests over Whistler cross country course

It isn't just the Olympic Sliding Centre, having its share of critics in Vancouver, now there are calls that the cross Country course is too dangerous as well.
Continue reading this post »

Eleven officers kicked off Olympic security force

Vancouver's crime rate might of taken a surprising drop during the Olympics, but 11 officers kicked off the 10,000-strong Integrated Security Unit at the Olympics probably helped increase that number a little this week 
Continue reading this post »

Jesse Lumsden wants his old voice back

The thing is Lumsden, who kicks off his Olympics today in the two-man bobsleigh event, does not even recognize his own voice.
Continue reading this post »

A look at Vancouver's second week of medal hopefuls

Vancouver organizers, Canadian Olympic officials and Own The Podium chieftains have been telling us for weeks not to panic about medals in the first week of these Olympic Games. Week 2, they told us, would be Canada's time to shine. Today marks the beginning of Week 2. Is Canada ready to shine? 
Continue reading this post »

Looking back at Vancouver's first Olympic week

It's a good thing Canada did not try to "Own the Podium" before sports like freestyle skiing and snowboarding were added to the competition. While the speed-skating team provided one medal of each colour over the first week, the less traditional snow sports really made the country's medal tally what it was.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's freestyle skiing aerials

All eyes will be on Nina Li going into the women's aerials. She's the reigning world champion (and has been three times, in 2005, 2007 and 2009) and is also took Olympic silver in Turin.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's Super G

After crashing in the slalom portion of Thursday's Super Combined, Lindsey Vonn will be eager to get back on track in the Super-G. Fierce rival, and Super Combined winner Maria Riesch won't make that easy, however, and her newfound confidence could pay dividends here. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Two-man bobsled

Three-time world champion Andre Lange is the one to watch in the two-man, especially after World Cup points leader Beat Hefti crashed his sled on Wednesday and remained questionable to race as of Thursday. Lange is the defending Olympic gold medallist.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's 1,500-metre long track

Canada's Denny Morrison is reported to be using his disappointing 13th-place finish in the 1,000 as motivation for a better result in this event.
Continue reading this post »

To like Vonn or not to like Vonn, that is the question

You know, I can't decide if I like Lindsey Vonn or not. On the one hand, she's a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who is also a world-class athlete, and both of these things garner my respect. On the other, my feeling is that her shin injury was either heavily exaggerated or even outright fabricated in order to pump her personal storyline.
Continue reading this post »

Luge track controversy still simmering

Warner Hoeger might have been a tourist in the world of luge -- he's a professor who competed in his last Olympics when he was in his early 50s -- but he appears to have been an informed tourist, and he warned officials that the Whistler Sliding Centre was not safe for everybody. 
Continue reading this post »

Europe skates in shadows of big four

The race has not even begun. But Katerina Novotna cannot help but feel as though she is already stuck behind the pack. 
Continue reading this post »

Vancouver protesters fall silent

For weeks leading to Vancouver's Games, the broad-based coalition of social activists broadcast its intention to disrupt the multi-billion dollar party. Now, there's only awkward silence.

Continue reading this post »

A '1-in-100 winter' screwed up the Games: VANOC

The world is scratching its head over Vancouver's mild weather, wondering how the frigid nation of Canada could possibly be short on cold or short on snow. 
Continue reading this post »

IOC's Rule 51 rears its head once again

If members of the International Olympic Committee had it their way, viewers and spectators would be exposed only to the logos of official corporate sponsors. Barring that perfect world, the IOC is doing its darndest to limit brand-name sightings at the Games, and apparently it is doing so with tape. 
Continue reading this post »

Dear Diary: Quatchi

Honestly, this weather is killing me. 10C and sunny outside, and I have to wear these earmuffs everywhere. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Dining Guide: Gold medal cuisine

Let's be honest: cheap eats and trying your luck at dinner time isn't for everyone. Sometimes, what a growling belly needs is the guarantee of great food and, often, that guarantee comes in the form of fine dining.

Continue reading this post »

Olympic Dining Guide: Tour of Richmond

We'll be taking you on a whirlwind gastronomic tour of the Lower Mainland in the next week with some tips on where to find the most delectable eats. First up: Richmond. 
Continue reading this post »

Taxman will take share of Olympic prize money

As Canada's Olympic medal count continues to rise, the obvious question among tax geeks is whether the bonus money Canada's athletes receive from the Canadian Olympic Committee is taxable.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Dining Guide: Kitsilano and cupcakes

What's a hungry icehole to do in a city where the Golden Arches currently rule the roost as the official restaurant of the Olympic Games?
Continue reading this post »

Vancouver crime drops during Olympics

Looks like Vancouver's badasses are taking the month off. Figures released by the Vancouver Police show crime is down dramatically since the Games started.
Continue reading this post »

U.S. curlers bring 'Hurry Hard' condoms to Games

What happens when you put a few thousand fit, attractive athletes in a small space for a few weeks? A lot of possible entanglements. 
Continue reading this post »

Believing in grammatically incorrect Olympic ballads

Nikki Yanofsky's Olympic power ballad "I believe" has been the top-selling song on iTunes for more than a week. Too bad it is grammatically incorrect. 
Continue reading this post »

Alphabetical guide to Canada: S to Z

Now that we've suddenly become a chest-beating nation, the National Post's Nathalie Atkinson and Derek McCormack seize the Olympic moment to show the world why we're proud even off the ice
Continue reading this post »

Dave Bidini: Let the Games free your inhibitions

I've been thinking, for instance, how lucky we are to be living in a country where winter sports. As a result, I need to ask you something, my darling little seal pup. 
Continue reading this post »

Stojko blasts Lysacek's Olympic victory

No need to ask Elvis Stojko how he really feels about men's figure skating these days. There is no question Elvis Stojko has a particular bias when it comes to how judging should be done.
Continue reading this post »

Stephen Marche: Olympics will define Canada

Vancouver 2010, no matter how expensive or how embarrassingly disorganized or plagued by poor weather, has already been worth whatever it costs the taxpayers of Canada and British Columbia. 
Continue reading this post »

Alphabetical guide to Canada: I to R

Now that we've suddenly become a chest-beating nation, the National Post's Nathalie Atkinson and Derek McCormack seize the Olympic moment to show the world why we're proud even off the ice
Continue reading this post »

Alphabetical guide to Canada: A to H

Now that we've suddenly become a chest-beating nation, the National Post's Nathalie Atkinson and Derek McCormack seize the Olympic moment to show the world why we're proud even off the ice
Continue reading this post »

Swiss are Schwingen

There is another tradition among the Swiss, and that's to bring and ring cowbells to urge the racers down the mountain. And not just any bells, giant bells. The bells are actually prizes given out for a traditional Swiss sport called "schwingen"

Continue reading this post »

Life inside a shipping container

You meet people from all over the place at the Olympics and have all kinds of conversations, which sometimes have a way of careening in new and interesting directions. 
Continue reading this post »

St-Gelais outshines famous boyfriend

In hindsight, Marianne St-Gelais admits that she should have wagered something. A night out at a fancy restaurant. A cup of coffee. Anything.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Ice dance

Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have a good chance of winning a medal on home soil. The pair took silver at last year's world championship.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's 15km pursuit

Norway's Marit Bjoergen might have ousted World Cup leader Justyna Kowalczyk for the gold medal in the women's sprint classic final -- but the 15 km pursuit is an entirely different race. A race that Kowalczyk won on this very Whistler course during a World Cup stop last January.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's Super G

Didier Cuche could be the one to watch here. The Swiss star may be 35 years old, but he is also the 2009 World Champion in the event. He will no doubt be pushed by Aksel Lund Svindal -- last year's World Cup winner -- and the always unpredictable American Bode Miller.
Continue reading this post »

Groves not sweating near miss

Shortly after Kristina Groves had finished fourth in the 1,000 metres, the Canadian speed skater walked into the media zone and noticed a group of local reporters huddled around a sign that read "bronze medal."
Continue reading this post »

Knitters take on an Olympic challenge

Morgan Beaudry is nowhere near the Olympics in Vancouver, but she, too, is competing. As Olympians flip, twirl, carve and slide down mountainsides in British Columbia, Ms. Beaudry's knitting needles flash again, again and again. 
Continue reading this post »

Remember that hockey is just a game

The IOC calls it "ice" hockey, and, after the first few days of the Olympics lying dormant, it is now here. Even though many of the arena's corporate suites were gaping with absent patrons on the first day of play, the crowd for Canada-Norway was heated and frenzied, despite the lack of drama that comes whenever a minnow is dropped into shark tank. 
Continue reading this post »

Oh good, the medals are chipping teeth

The Olympic medals being presented here are the heaviest in history, apparently. They're the kind of Olympic medals a person could use to bludgeon another person to death, if they were of a mind to, which they are presumably not. This would be terribly un-Olympian.
Continue reading this post »

The Olympics are contagious (in more ways than one)

We're almost a week in, and I'm feeling Olympian. Well, not quite. I am heroically wrestling with a minor cold, and unlike your basic Olympic athlete, I can load up on as much cold medication as I want. I can dope myself to kingdom come. Sinutab, Buckley's, dark beers, you name it.
Continue reading this post »

Dutch speed skater to NBC: 'Are you stupid?'

Today's blooper comes courtesy of NBC, the same network being lambasted state-side for refusing to air Olympic events live.
Continue reading this post »

The 'ladies' and 'women' of the Winter Games

We've noticed a slightly odd phenomenon in the events for women at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, namely that no one can seem to agree on what to call them: Girls? Women? Ladies? 
Continue reading this post »

Norwegian curlers return with new pants

Just when you thought all of the crazy-pants news to come out of the Olympics had been told, the Norwegians took to the curling rink with new argyle pants
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's super combined

She may have finished sixth in this event in Turin, but after Wednesday's downhill gold, American Lindsey Vonn will be favoured here.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's 1,000-metre long track

Christine Nesbitt is the overwhelming favourite to win this event and add to Canada's gold medal collection at Vancouver. Nesbitt won the 2009 world championship and she also took the bronze in 2007. She has won an impressive 13 gold medals in World Cup competition.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's halfpipe

When it comes to the betting circuit, Kelly Clark is heavily weighed as a favourite going in. She already has a gold medal from Salt Lake City in 2002. In Turin, Clark gave what is still considered one of the finest performances for a woman (and frankly, either sex) on the halfpipe.
Continue reading this post »

Lopsided victories call women's hockey into question

At the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the Canadian women's hockey team just can't win. The scores are favourable. The problem: If the Canadians continue to pot goals every few minutes against weaker opponents, they are accused of running up the score; and if they hold back, they risk making their sport look bad and humiliating their opponents even more.

Continue reading this post »

Gloom over Games is beginning to lift

It always comes down to weather, here in these parts. It has humbled massive efforts to fix mountain courses and it has made folks snappish, too. No one here can claim immunity from seasonal affective disorder, which is a very Vancouver thing.
Continue reading this post »

St-Gelais captures short track silver

On Wednesday, Canada had three of its best skaters in the 500-metre race. None really cracked. But only Marianne St-Gelais ended up on the podium. The 20-year-old from Roberval, Que., who celebrated her birthday today, received a silver medal as a present. Holding a Canadian flag, she pumped her fist several times to the adoring crowd.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's skeleton

Latvia's medal count currently sits at zero, along with the country's history of capturing gold at the Winter Olympics. But skeleton racer Martins Dukurs could change all that on Thursday, in less than two minutes. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's skeleton

Canada's Mellisa Hollingsworth has been unstoppable on the World Cup circuit this year. The 2006 bronze medallist is the overwhelming favourite to win gold on home soil.
Continue reading this post »

A few lessons learned from Russia's blowout of Latvia

Blowouts look great for the winning players. But they can be terrible for coaches, when it comes to trying to analyze a team's strengths and weaknesses. When Canada defeated Norway by a score of 8-0 on Tuesday, we managed to learn a few things about the host country's roster. But not much more than we already knew.
Continue reading this post »

Russian Bear not fierce so far in Vancouver

When Vladimir Putin addressed the 2007 IOC congress in Guatemala to help Russia's bid to host the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, the political strongman cited the storied past of his nation in the Winter Games.
Continue reading this post »

Short-track coach likes women's odds

Four years ago, Sebastien Cros might have been worried. The Canadian coach's top skater in Wednesday's 500-metre women's short-track speed skating event is Kalyna Roberge. She finished fourth at the 2006 Olympics. And she ranked second on the World Cup circuit this year. 
Continue reading this post »

Pants of all sports the talk of B.C.

Forgive us while we wax long on Olympic pants. Of all the news coming out of the West Coast -- the crushing crowds, the gold medals, the cauldron spat -- it is still the pants that have our attention.
Continue reading this post »

The Olympics Venues: Oval is the jewel of the Games

The most alluring jewel in Vancouver's Olympic crown rests on a river delta, south of the city boundary. In Richmond, an affluent, polyglot suburb.
Continue reading this post »

On second thought, let's disown the podium

The nonsense part of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics needs to stop. All talk of first or bust and medals as the new religion has gone on long enough.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's 1000-metre short track

Canadian Charles Hamelin is the one to watch heading in. He currently holds the World Cup record for this distance. His competition, however, is stiff.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's 1000-metre long track

A two-time world champion in the event -- and the defending gold-medallist -- the U.S.'s Shani Davis is far and away the favourite to top the podium in this event, but it will not be easy.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's downhill skiing

By all rights, this should be the first of many medals for America's Queen of the Slopes: Lindsey Vonn. That is, if her mysterious shin ailment does not impede her ability to get down the hill.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's sprint classic final

Petra Majdic of Slovenia was just a blip on the cross country radar when she finished in sixth place at the 2006 Olympics. But she's back and ready to be a contender for the gold medal in the sprint classic.
Continue reading this post »

Team Canada's first two games are epic mismatches

No matter how many NHL stars a hockey team has, it can always be upset. Switzerland's 2-0 win over Team Canada in men's hockey at the 2006 Turin Olympics with a roster that featured a couple of NHL goalies, one bona fide NHL skater and a transplanted Canadian veteran proved that.
Continue reading this post »

The Olympic Venues: Canada Pavilion the big ugly tent everyone loves

A hastily assembled federal showcase to this nation's sporting heritage, Canada Pavilion cannot be defended on architectural merit. Because there is none.
Continue reading this post »

Dave Bidini: A visit to Hockey House

I am talking to a giant jockstrap. The jockstrap is positioned beside a throne on the stage of Molson Canadian Hockey House. Sitting on the throne also talking to the jockstrap -- which, did I mention, is also talking? -- is actor and comedian Seán Cullen.
Continue reading this post »

Short track has its share of secrets

The spirit of the Olympics might be about bringing the world's best athletes together for a peaceful, friendly and healthy competition. But at its core, the Games are still about winning gold medals for yourself and your country.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's curling

With all due respect to Cheryl Bernard, it wasn't supposed to be this way.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's curling

It would take a minor miracle for the draw not to produce a Canada-Scotland final.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's long track 500 metres

With six victories in eight World Cup races this season, Germany's Jenny Wolf is a clear favourite for gold.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Women's snowboard cross

This event is combination of downhill race and roller-derby, which could explain why Canadian Maelle Ricker has endured several knee operations during her lengthy career.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic Contenders: Men's super combined

The super combined is the all-round test in Olympic skiing, asking racers to put down combined fastest times in both a downhill and then a slalom run - in the same day
Continue reading this post »

Olympic contenders: Men's figure skating

Media machine Patrick Chan, who finished second at worlds in 2009, is Canada's best hope for a medal. Currently ranked ninth in the world, Chan was stunned when his coach quit just last month.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic contenders: Men's hockey

It seems that with every passing Olympic tournament, the quality of the teams in the men's draw improves. That is certainly the case this year, where there are no less than six, possibly seven teams that could take home the gold.
Continue reading this post »

Celski's recovery nothing short of miraculous

Whenever anybody asks J.R. Celski what caused him to miss the last five months of competition, all the U.S. short track speed skater has to do is take out his iPhone. There, brought up on the tiny LCD screen, is the close-up picture of a leg that looks like it had been attacked by a shark. It is the kind of ghastly image that would make a stomach turn. 
Continue reading this post »

The Olympic Venues: All eyes on Dave Murray Downhill

Former ski racer Rob Boyd knows Whistler's men's downhill course better than almost anyone, having won a career-defining World Cup event there in 1989. He lives near the finish line and still skis the twisting, plunging route. These days, without a safety net.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic contenders: Men's snowboardcross

On paper, Seth Wescott may not look like a viable threat to the snowboardcross crown. But the defending Olympic champion has the experience to back up his potential for another gold medal.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Women's 3,000 metres

Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic has owned the distance events for three years after finishing fourth in the 5,000 metres in Turin.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Men's 500 metres

Unlike the other distances, where the Americans are expected to dominate, the 500 is pretty wide open
Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Women's 500 metres

Wang Meng, the gold medallist in this event in 2006 in Turin and the two-time defending world champion, was undefeated at all four World Cup stops this season. 
Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Cindy Klassen

The National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.
Continue reading this post »

Jessica Gregg qualifies for semi-final

Jessica Gregg could not wait. And it showed. The 21-year-old short track speed skater jumped out to an early lead in the opening heat of the women's 500-metre sprint
Continue reading this post »

All is not lost for short-track speed skaters

It was at the 2006 Olympics in Turin when Charles Hamelin helped Canada's short-track speedskating relay team win silver.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Women's luge singles

Germans, Germans ... and more Germans. Tatjana Hufner won five of the World Cup races this season.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Men's luge singles

There are lugers and then there is Armin Zoggeler. 
Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Marc Gagnon


The National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.
Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Annie Perreault

The National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Pairs figure skating

Germans Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy are dominating this year's world standings, but Russian pair Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov boast better personal bests this season
Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Women's hockey

As always, there are two teams in the women's tournament worth talking about: Canada and the U.S. Canada has won the past two Olympic gold medals
Continue reading this post »

Sombre tone sets mood for Day One

On Friday morning, the Olympic torch relay moved through Stanley Park and into the crowded West End, nearing its final destination of BC Place. 
Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Men's 5,000 metres

Dutch and Norwegian history is steeped in the history of long-distance skating, so it's no surprise their skaters dominate this event.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Women's moguls

Things change and freestyle skiing has been a change for the better when it comes to Canada's medal count.

Continue reading this post »

Olympic preview: Men's downhill

The most death-defying of Olympic ski disciplines, the downhill demands only this: Get down the mountain as quickly as possible. 
Continue reading this post »

The perils of aiming for zipline gold

Standing in sensible shoes atop a swaying tower, seven stories above the street: My first 2010 Olympic moment. Looking over the precipice, I'll confess right now, my knees began to wobble
Continue reading this post »

Death calls into question Whistler luge track's safety

The safety of the Whistler Sliding Centre has been called into question after the death of 21-year-old Nodar Kmaritashvilli
Continue reading this post »

The Olympic Venues: Games' opening is final curtain for B.C. Place roof

As the $38-million spectacle to open the 2010 Olympic Winter Games unfolds tonight and Canadian kitsch and culture clash at centre stage, spectators under the roof can savour this: They are witnessing the death throes of a dingy, dowdy dame. 
Continue reading this post »

Leafs run to hot and cold during Olympics

Three Maple Leafs players and coach Ron Wilson will be making their way to Vancouver following Friday night's game in St. Louis against the Blues.
Continue reading this post »

Siblings come from true Olympic stock

It is a story that Jamie and Jessica Gregg have heard a hundred times. 
Continue reading this post »

Hamelin has heart set on being a hero

Charles Hamelin is the first to admit that he does not not quite cut the figure of a superhero when wearing nothing but his street clothes.
Continue reading this post »

François Hamelin escapes serious injury in crash

François Hamelin provided the Canadian short track speed skating team with a minor scare on Wednesday when he crashed towards the protective mats during a practice run at Pacific Coliseum
Continue reading this post »

Sharks' Olympic trio proves inseparable

When Canada Olympic men's hockey executive director Steve Yzerman selected the San Jose Sharks trio of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau, it was assumed, although not yet a given, that they would play as a line in Vancouver.
Continue reading this post »

No shortage of replacement options if Getzlaf ruled out

The Canadian Olympic men's hockey management team should know later Tuesday whether Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf will play next week in Vancouver or not
Continue reading this post »

When we Owned the Podium: Women's hockey

The National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.
Continue reading this post »

When We Owned the Podium: Ross Rebagliati

The National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.
Continue reading this post »

Olympic rules cause confused athletes to avoid social media

If you're looking to spend countless hours scrolling through your favourite skier's tweets during the Olympic Games, you could be out of luck.
Continue reading this post »

Team USA's Burke tees off on curling, Canadian pressure

Brian Burke may be general manager of one of Canada's iconic NHL teams, but Canadian he is not.
Continue reading this post »

Short-track's first family hopes to capitalize

Yves Hamelin is well aware of what it at stake
Continue reading this post »

When We Owned the Podium: Jennifer Heil

The National Post looks back at the 39 gold medals the nation has won in Winter Games history.
Continue reading this post »

When We Owned the Podium: Jean-Luc Brassard

The Post looks back at the 39 gold medals Canada has won in Winter Games history.
Continue reading this post »
« January 2010 | Main Index

HOME|MEDALS|RESULTS|SCHEDULE|ATHLETES|NEWS|VENUES|FORUMS|BLOGS|VIDEOS|PHOTOS|THE GAMES PAST & PRESENT

Copyright © CBC 2010

© 2010 IOC. Official results powered by Atos Origin. Timing and results management by Omega