Canadians will be watching Perdita Felicien's pursuit of redemption at the Beijing Games.Canadians will be watching Perdita Felicien's pursuit of redemption at the Beijing Games. (Anja Niedringhaus/Associated Press)

While Canadians are consumed by the Stanley Cup playoffs, thoughts will soon turn to the Olympics as Wednesday marks 100 days to go in the countdown to the Beijing Games.

Fans can expect wall-to-wall coverage from CBC Sports and CBCSports.ca leading to the opening ceremony on Aug. 8.

To this point, critics of China's human rights, the demonstrations over the torch relay, and the possible boycott of the opening ceremony by some countries have dominated the headlines and overshadowed the impending global spectacle of the Summer Games.

However, once the action commences, attention will quickly shift to the athletes and their quest for Olympic glory.

For Canadians, the story will continue to be hurdler Perdita Felicien's pursuit of redemption.

Perdita’s nightmare

No other image of a Canadian Olympic athlete could match the one of the heartbroken Felicien – the reigning women's 100-metre hurdles world champion heading into the Athens Games – falling over the first hurdle four years ago and dashing any chance of a gold medal. Felicien's nightmare was the most viewed story on CBCSports.ca's Olympic site as every Canadian who witnessed the much-anticipated race felt her disappointment.

The Pickering, Ont., native regrouped last season on her 27th birthday to capture a silver during the world track and field championships in Osaka, Japan.

Although she suffered a foot injury in February, her coach Gary Winckler believes the injury is not serious, thus allowing Felicien the chance of a better outcome in Beijing.

Adam van Koeverden, meanwhile, was the most successful Canadian athlete in Athens. The Toronto kayaker won a gold medal in the K-1 500m, and then collected a bronze in the K-1 1000m.

Van Koeverden, Canada’s first double medallist at an Olympics since 1996, remains one of the nation's best medal hopefuls heading into Beijing. The 26- year-old was the World Cup overall winner for four straight seasons (2004-07) and won gold in the K-1 500 m at last year's world championships.

Despatie healthy for Beijing

Diver Alexandre Despatie continues to be plagued by injuries, but should be ready to challenge for more Olympic medals. Despatie, 22, broke a bone in his right foot in a bad landing in a warm-up on the pool deck in early April.

Still, the Laval, Que., star expects to be completely healthy in time for the Olympics. Despite his injuries, Despatie is one of the top divers in the world. He earned a silver medal in the men's 3m springboard at the Athens Games, and followed it up by winning two gold medals (3m and 1m springboard) at the 2005 world championships in Montreal.

Despatie missed most of the 2006 season with neck and back problems, but returned to form in 2007 to take silver in the 3m-springboard competition at the world championships in Melbourne. Aside from his solo events, Despatie is looking to add to his Olympic medal haul in Beijing by teaming with partner Arturo Miranda of Montreal in the men's synchronized diving competition.

On the International level, the Beijing Games could belong to one phenomenal swimmer by the name of Michael Phelps. The American superstar dominated the Olympics four years ago after winning six gold medals and is setting his sights on breaking a 36-year mark by fellow swimmer Mark Spitz, who made Olympic history by winning an incredible seven gold medals at the Munich Games. With a little added incentive, Phelps could best his American counterpart.

The Baltimore native will earn a $1 million US bonus from Speedo should he break Spitz’s mark.

Other Canadians to watch

Here are other Canadians who could walk away with Olympic hardware:

  • Men's Eight, Rowing – After a disastrous loss in Athens, the men haven't lost in a year and are the reigning world champions.
  • Sam Cools, BMX – The Airdrie, Alta., cyclist is a five-time junior world champion and is ranked second in the International Cycling Union (UCI) standings.
  • Kyle Shewfelt, Gymnastics – the defending Olympic floor champion is recovering from surgery on both knees, but is making great progress and remains a medal threat for Beijing.
  • Karen Cockburn, Trampoline – Cockburn earned an Olympic silver medal at the Athens Games and is considered one of the elite athletes in her sport.
  • Brent Hayden, Swimming – Despite nursing a sore back, the world champion in the men's 100m freestyle event is Canada's only hope for a swimming medal.