VANCOUVER -- Charles Hamelin always wanted to be a superhero.
As a kid, he read any comic he could get his hands on. When he grew older, he grew his hair out long because "that's what superheroes looked like." 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.
Immediately after the winning his first of two gold medals -- in the 500 metres and the team relay -- the Canadian short track speedskater made a beeline for the end boards at Pacific Coliseum. There, waiting for him as previously planned, was teammate Marianne St-Gelais. With the crowd roaring, the two embraced and kissed in what seemed like a moment that was frozen in time.
"It was something that I had to do," he said afterwards.
Hamelin was speaking about celebrating with his girlfriend. But he could have been talking about his double-gold performances.
The bearded 25-year-old had been the face of the Canadian short track speedskating team. But, after failing to land on the podium in the 1,500-metre and 1,000-metre events earlier during these Olympics, some wondered if the pressure of performing at home was too much for the native of Levis, Que.
And then, on the final night of competition, he and the rest of the team atoned for their earlier hiccups.
"My goal was to bring back one medal in the individual and one in the relay," he said. "Whatever the colour it could have been."
Aside from Hamelin's two gold medals, François-Louis Tremblay of Alma, Que., won a bronze medal in the 500 metres. And the men's relay team (Hamelin, Tremblay, François Hamelin, Olivier Jean and Guillaume Bastille) picked up another gold.
According to team leader Yves Hamelin, who is also Charles' father, it was "a birthday for us."
The Canadian team had picked up four medals (three silver and one bronze) at the 2006 Olympics. On Friday night, it increased that ante to five (two gold, two silver and a bronze).
That Canada would save its best for last was not all that surprising.
The 500-metre individual sprint and the 5,000-metre team relay were Canada's strongest races. This was where they would win their gold medals. This was where they would show the world and redeem themselves by finishing on top.
At four-and-a-half-laps, the 500-metre race last about as long as the average hockey shift.
Charles Hamelin entered the Olympics as the top-ranked skater. Tremblay was second. And the unpredictable Jean of Lachenaie, Que., was 10th. As such, expectations were high.
"Conservatively, two Canadians in the final," Hamelin had predicted, "and one on the podium."
Added Tremblay: "I'm aiming for gold, of course."
With two Canadians in the four-man final, the odds looked promising. But, as we had already seen numerous times during these Olympics, anything can happen in short track.
Hamelin, who started on the inside, took the lead right away and held it for most of the race. Chasing him were Korea's Sung Si-Bak and Tremblay, respectively, while Ohno characteristically stayed in the back and waited for his time to attack. When he did -- on the final turn on the final lap -- all hell broke loose.
The Seattle native, who had a generous amount of fans at the Pacific Coliseum, tried to go around on the outside of Tremblay. But as he put a hand on the Canadian skater's shoulder, Tremblay fell and took out Sung, who was briefly in the lead.
Though Hamelin got twisted around, he managed to stay on his feet and cross the finish line in first.
For a brief moment, Ohno thought he had another medal to go with the silver he won in the 1,500 metres and the bronze he won in the 1,000 metres. But a referee disqualified the 27-year-old and bumped up Sung to second and Tremblay to third.
"Today, the bronze was really good. I'm really happy about it," said Tremblay, who won a silver medal in the 500 metres in the 2006 Olympics. "I knew he pushed because I never really fall. The last time I fell was two years ago."
Though Ohno insinuated that there was a hometown bias -- "You know, it's the head Canadian referee out there and there were two Canadians in the race" he said -- the Canadians disagreed.
"It's the type of comment that we hear once in a while," said Yves Hamelin. "But I can tell you it's never the case. [Referee Michelle Verreault] is usually more severe against the Canadians."
