Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Winter 2009/2010 Outback | Page 28

9 FEATURE CTV’s Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments as voted by Canadians and presented by the Royal Canadian Mint: 8 3 7 Women’s Hockey Team gold medal, Salt Lake City, 2002 2 10 Cindy Klassen one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals, long track speed skating, Turin, 2006 6 Men’s Hockey Team gold medal, Salt Lake City, 2002 1 Catriona Le May Doan gold medal, long track speed skating, Salt Lake City, 2002 5 Jamie Salé and David Pelletier gold medal, figure skating, Salt Lake City, 2002 4 Nagano and the fact that she is the only woman to have set eight consecutive world records in one distance, and it is not surprising that Le May Doan is referred to as “the fastest woman on ice.” After four Olympics, Le May Doan retired from competitive skating in 2003 and became a member of the official Canadian contingent for the Vancouver Olympics. She still holds the Olympic record in the 500 m. Short track speed skater Marc Gagnon has won every major title in his sport. When he stepped onto the ice in Salt Lake City in 2002, although he already held the gold medal for a 5000 m relay in Nagano, he was looking for an individual win. In the 500 m sprint, after just 41.802 seconds, Gagnon crossed the finish line taking gold and setting a new Olympic record, one that still stands today. Less than an hour later, he stepped back onto the ice with three teammates and skated to gold in the 5000 m relay. With five medals, Gagnon is one of Canada’s most decorated Wi nter Olympics athletes. Not all of the Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments took place on ice. One of Canada’s favourites, Beckie Scott, is an athlete we remember as much for her reputation for clean play as for her accomplishments. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, Scott made a dramatic lunge at the finish line of the ladies’ 5 km combined pursuit to win bronze and become the first North American to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing. Scott would have loved gold but was unable to beat out two members of the Russian team. Days later, though, after having passed their 9 10 Clara Hughes gold medal, long track speed skating, Turin, 2006 Nancy Greene gold medal and silver medal, alpine skiing, Grenoble, 1968 Gaétan Boucher two gold medals and one bronze medal, long track speed skating, Sarajevo, 1984 Beckie Scott gold medal, cross-country skiing, Salt Lake City, 2002 Marc Gagnon gold medal, short track speed skating, Salt Lake City, 2002 initial tests, both Russian skiers were found to be using a banned substance. Scott was eventually awarded the gold medal. Retired as an athlete since 2006, Scott continues her battle to make the sport a better place as an athlete member of the International Olympic Committee; the Olympic organizing committee for the Vancouver 2010 Games; and the foundation board of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Depending on your age, Nancy Greene may still be your most remembered Canadian Olympian. In 1968 in Grenoble, at her third Winter Olympics, after winning silver in the slalom, the giant slalom was Greene’s ninth Olympic race and her last chance for a gold medal. After a near perfect race, Greene turned to look at the clock and the numbers were still moving. She thought, “I’ve just skied the race of my life and they missed my time.” The clock malfunction was corrected and Greene had won the race by 2.64 seconds, the largest margin in the event's history. Greene retired from competition, but skiing has never left her sights. She was instrumental in the development and promotion of ski tourism in British Columbia and, in 1999, was named Canada’s female athlete of the century by The Canadian Press and Broadcast News. Most of us can hardly wait to see how our Canadian athletes fare at our very own Winter Games. What records will fall? Which athletes will shine? Will our bosses realize our out-of-office meetings correspond with key sporting events? We will have to wait for February to see how it all unfolds. | 13