Blind Canadian skier won't race, team says
Last Updated: Saturday, February 27, 2010 | 2:22 AM ET
The Canadian Press
Brian McKeever, who has limited peripheral vision, is the first Canadian Paralympic athlete to be chosen for a Canadian Olympic team. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)Canadian cross-country ski coaches decided late Friday not to start legally blind skier Brian McKeever on Sunday in the 50-kilometre mass-start classic race at the Vancouver Olympics, a team spokesman says.
McKeever, who has limited peripheral vision, is the first Canadian Paralympic athlete to be chosen for a Canadian Olympic team. His participation was trumpeted as historic by team officials when he was named to the cross-country squad and McKeever drew worldwide attention.
Now he appears to be on the sidelines.
A team spokesman said in an email that the decision had been taken not to start McKeever in the race and the four positions in Sunday's race will go to team members Alex Harvey of Saint-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que.; Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta.; Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont.; and George Grey of Rossland, B.C.
"No start for Brian," wrote media attaché Chris Dornan. "Will be Alex, Ivan, Devon, George."
Inge Braten, the team's coach, had said earlier in the day the lineup for the prestigious 50-kilometre race has to be a decision based purely on ability.
"I have to be professional and I have to choose those guys who are best for the 50-kilometre race," he said.
Head coach Dave Wood said he couldn't confirm the emailed information, adding that he will only provide the starting list after the woman's race on Saturday.
"We'll enter the teams [Saturday], then our position will be known. ... At noon we put in our entry," he said.
Braten and Wood are allowed to enter only four skiers under International Ski Federation rules.
Braten said he and Wood have asked the International Ski Federation if Canada, being a home country, can enter a fifth racer, but he doubts the federation will allow it.
No 5th skier
Late Friday, Sandra Spitz, a spokeswoman for the ISF, said there will be no fifth skier allowed for the Canadian team.
"So far, nothing came to us for a fifth person, and I'm quite sure that nobody will allow a fifth person because that has never happened before."
Braten said McKeever is up against four Canadians who have top-10 results so far in these Games, and if they are feeling strong, they should ski in the final event.
It's a tough choice, he said."Help me, please help me," Braten said to reporters.
He had said McKeever could be chosen Friday night if coaches believed one of the four skiers is feeling tired from a series of tough races.
"We have to look into how they're doing in training today," he said. "All four have had the day off from the relay yesterday and then we have to talk after the training on how they feel.
"But if all four are coming back and saying they're in really good shape and they look forward to doing the 50-kilometre, then I have a problem."
McKeever is a specialist in the long-distance endurance races and qualified by winning a 50-kilometre race in Canmore, Alta.
Yves Bilodeau, the senior technician, said he doesn't envy the coach's decision.
"All four guys are still in good shape . . . We cannot take a guy like Ivan [Babikov] out of the race. He's a guy who can win a medal for us on Sunday," he said.
All four of the biggest names on the men's team have had good results during the Games.
Babikov placed fifth in the 30-kilometre pursuit earlier this week, while Harvey came ninth and Grey eighth. Harvey and Kershaw teamed for a historic fourth-place result in the team pursuit earlier this week.
"McKeever said earlier Friday it was difficult waiting to hear.
"Hopefully, I'm one of those guys. I think the snow conditions here are a plus," he said, as he prepared to train on a snowy day in the Callaghan Valley.
"I'll keep my fingers crossed. ... I can't change it. All I can do is go out and train and come into it in my best shape."
