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January 27, 2007
It's never too early to start planning
Speed Skating Canada is poised to announce that Quebec City will be host to 2008 Short Track World Cup #5 next Feb. 1-3. Evidently a brand-new Olympic-size ice surface will open there later this year. This is a big deal because it will also be the 400-year anniversary celebration for the city of Quebec, which is also hosting the World Hockey Championships in 2008 - or hoping to. This event is in jeopardy due to lax organization.
Er, let's hope their World Cup organizing committee will be more on the ball, but with the FPVQ in charge it's hard to imagine it won't be. Because dammit, I'm dying to go to Quebec City for a World Cup! The final World Cup next year will be held in the U.S. at an as-yet undisclosed venue.
If you really want to plan ahead (and scout out the terrain for 2010), Richmond/Vancouver will host Canada's 2009 World Cup in the run-up to the next Winter Games.
Journal de Québec | L'élite mondiale de la courte piste à Québec
Posted by noelle at 10:52 AM | Comments (10)
January 26, 2007
More from the U Games
[sunday update] Both Canadian relay teams were disqualified in the finals. Korea won the men's final, with China taking silver and Italy bronze. China won the women's relay final after Korea and Canada's disqualifications, with Japan earning silver. No bronze medal was awarded.
Loads of great photos available here! http://picasaweb.google.com/gousa2007
And some details on the U.S. short team's performances, via USOC Coverage:
Thrills and Spills In Short Track
The second day of racing for the 2007 U.S. Winter World University Games Speedskating Team in Torino, Italy, was action packed with various falls and disqualifications. Competing in the 500m, the entire U.S. ladies squad of Erica Lanser (Elm Grove, Wis., Elm Grove, Wis., Marquette Univ.), Sophia Milan, (North Royalton, Ohio, Marquette, Mich., Northern Michigan Univ.); Katherine Reutter (Champaign, Ill., Marquette, Mich., Northern Michigan Univ.) and Cherise Wilkins (Syracuse, N.Y., Marquette, Mich., Northern Michigan Univ.) advanced in their preliminary heats. Reutter was the only U.S. woman to advance to the quarterfinals.
During the race she jockyed for her position on the ice, but took third in her heat to eventual bronze medalist Ann Maltais of Canada. Korea’s Hye-Kyung Kim took the gold, and China’s Cuijia Liu won the silver.
On the men’s side, Chris Carr (Atlanta, Ga., Marquette, Mich., Northern Michigan Univ.) and veteran on the U.S. squad, Derek Gray (Norton Shores, Mich., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Pikes Peak Community College/Univ. of Calgary) raced through to the first heat of skating. But it was Gray who slid into the quarterfinals, but was starting from the last lane among five skaters.
There were two false starts before they got underway. Gray was eliminated in the heat by the eventual gold and silver medalists. Carr was advanced to the next heat after he was bumped and ran into the wall. This time causing a cut to his leg by the opponents’ skate. The abrasion ultimatly required three sititches.
Neither Gray nor Carr earned a pass to the finals. All of the men raced in the 5000m quarterfinals, but a fall early in the race forced them out of contention. Thursday welcomes the mens and womens 1000m competition at the Palavela venue.
Posted by noelle at 2:37 PM | Comments (5)
Results from the Winter Universiade
[update]
China finally broke the South Korean stranglehold on gold medals with a win in the women's 1000m final. Liu Cuijia crossed the finish line in second but was upgraded to gold upon the disqualification for impeding of South Korea's Hye-kyung Kim. Silver went to Ha-ri Cho of Korea with Italy's Marta Capurso earning bronze in front of the home crowd.
The men's 1000m was a more typical affair, with the Korean men sweeping all 3 medals. Victor Si-bak Sung completed his sweep of the gold medals in all 4 individual distances.
Katherine Reutter had the top American performance, making it to the 1000m semi finals where she finished 3rd. Mathieu Giroux and Remi Beaulieu also earned 3rd-place finishes for Canada in the men's 1000m semis.
CCTV | Liu Cuijia wins lucky gold in short-track speed-skating
The article opens with a non sequitur about the Australian Open, but has a link to watch video of the race, if you can get it to work. It just bogged down my system.
posted Wednesday, Jan. 24:
Medals have now been awarded in the 1500m and 500m and so far, the Koreans have swept all the golds, with China sneaking in for some silvers and bronzes. Anne Maltais' 500m bronze is the sole North American podium appearance thus far, saving the day for Canada after all the disqualification of 3 of her teammates on the men's side.
Speed skater Maltais claims first Canadian medal
Congratulations to Ms. Maltais on her first international medal!
Sadly, it appears that the USA men did not make it out of their relay quarterfinal. Canada won theirs.
- Complete Winter Universiade results available here
- Photo gallery
Posted by noelle at 11:31 AM | Comments (60)
January 25, 2007
Apolo on Dr. Phil
Thanks to Katie for making these next 2 videos available to us on YouTube!
Posted by noelle at 9:21 PM | Comments (19)
T. Rowe Price commercial
Here's the T. Rowe Price short track commercial, featuring Jeff Scholten and other Canadian short trackers.
Posted by noelle at 9:18 PM | Comments (3)
People's Daily | Skater girls rev up to outsprint South Korean rivals
Short track skating star Wang Meng is planning to put the skids under archrivals South Korea at the upcoming Winter Asian Games, to ensure she is in pole position at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games."The Asian Winter Games is good practice for Vancouver," said Wang, who won the 500m gold medal at the Turin Winter Olympic Games last year. "I'd only call it a successful practice if I beat the Koreans and win gold."
Wang admitted that her form has dipped while she has tried to adapt to new coach Li Yan. "I have not accustomed myself to the new coach," said Wang. "I will try to adjust during the Games."
Also: China short-track skaters to vie against the best in Winter Asiad
Posted by noelle at 9:42 AM | Comments (9)
January 24, 2007
Apparently we have new skinsuits
Kyle Carr pushes Levi Kirkpatrick in the men's relay at the Winter University Games
Since the Canucks have a stranglehold on garish costumes, we're going all out in the competition for most boring design ever. (And you thought the USA skins from Torino 2006 couldn't get any duller!)
Posted by noelle at 4:29 PM | Comments (31)
January 23, 2007
A couple new links
Toronto Sun | Unknown Legends
In Canadian Olympic lore, they have won more medals during the past dozen years than anyone. Overseas they are idolized... But set them at Bay and Front St. and nine out of 10 passersby might think the only thing missing was a sleeping bag and an outstretched hat. Anonymity’s children.They are Canada’s long and short track speed skaters.
Sofia Echo | SHORT TRACK CHAMPION FROM BULGARIA TO CONTINUE PURSUING TITLES
Posted by noelle at 5:31 PM | Comments (12)
January 22, 2007
Apolo and coffee - two great Seattle tastes
ApoloAntonOhno.com reports that Starbucks is featuring a quote from Apolo on its coffee cups as part of its 'The Way I See It' series:
The Way I See It #190 Starbucks quote
"If I have given my all and still do not win, I haven't lost. Others might remember winning or losing; I remember the journey." -Apolo Anton Ohno- Olympic medalist
For more info, visit AAO.com!
Posted by noelle at 11:46 AM | Comments (17)
January 21, 2007
Lots of short track action around the world this weekend!
[update] Complete results from American Cup 3 are now available (courtesy Kevin Graf)
Here's a rundown of what's taking place:
Canadian National Team Trials - Jan. 18 - 21 in Sudbury, ON
Event to pick Canada's World Team and in theory their team for World Cups 5 and 6, though back in December, Canada was rumored to be staying home from the European World Cups in favor of training for Worlds in March. In the past Canada has sent a B team to the final World Cups so I guess we'll see.
Day 1 results: Charles Hamelin and Kalyna Roberge were victors in the 1500m action on Thursday. Mathieu Giroux is on the comeback trail with his silver-medal effort and Remi Beaulieu picked up a bronze - go Remi! On the ladies' side, Annik Plamondon and Anne Maltais finished a very close 2nd and third. Results
Day 2 results: Charles Hamelin and Kalyna Roberge repeated as gold medalists with victories in Friday's men's and women's 500m races. Both skaters have now secured the right to compete individually at the World Championships. Roberge remains undefeated this season in national trials, while Hamelin has been defeated just once -- both remarkable displays of consistency. 500m silver went to Francois-Louis Tremblay and bronze to Jean-Francois Monette. On the women's side, Anne Maltais picked up 500m silver and Nita Avrith won bronze. Results
Day 3 results: Hamelin and Roberge extended their impressive dominance this season with victories in the 1000m on the final day of the Canadian trials. Results
Top 6 men and top 5 women overall after both sets of trials this season will make up the world team; top 2 men and women will compete individually for Canada a the World Championships in Italy. Canada will skip World Cup 5 in the Netherlands (apparently they think their only competition comes from Asia) but they will attend World Cup 6 in Hungary:
Canadian World Team (women):
1. Kalyna Roberge
2. Anne Maltais
3. Annik Plamondon
4. Nita Avrith
5. Ivanie Blondin
*Amanda Overland was unable to compete this weekend due to injury and received a bye onto the world teamCanadian World Team (men):
1. Charles Hamelin
2. Olivier Jean
3. François-Louis Tremblay
4. Jean-François Monette
5. Marc-André Monette
6. Mathieu GirouxOlivier Jean continues a stupendous breakout season in clinching the 2nd individual berth for Canada, and it's nice to see Jeff Monette back on the international scene. Additional results have been posted in the comments.
European Short Track Championships - Jan. 19-21 in Sheffield, GBR
See Cyberscoreboard for results
Results: Evgenia Radanova of Bulgaria and Italy's Nicola Rodigari successfully defended their European titles - the 7th championship for Radanova! It was a close contest between the Bulgarian legend and Stephanie Bouvier of France for the women's title, and there were some interesting results all weekend long. Sarah Lindsay of Great Britain won her first-ever international medal when she took silver in the 500m. Germany are relay champions all around, having taken gold in both the men's and women's final in Sheffield. The home crowd got some additional excitement with the GBR men's relay bronze. More info and complete results
American Cup 3 - Jan. 20-21 in Saratoga Springs, NY [update] Complete results from American Cup 3 are now available
American Cup 3 - overall standings (women):
1. Skylar McCormick - 2775 points
2. Sadie Grace - 1640
3. Kelly Gunther - 1550
4. Carly Wilson - 1496
5. Heather Gallagher - 1375American Cup 3 - overall standings (men):
1. Trevor Marsicano - 3175 points
2. Tom Anderson - 1837
3. Barry Winslow - 1625
4. Joey Lindsey - 1456
5. Ganghyun Song - 895
Winter Universiade (World University Games) - Jan. 17-27 in Torino, ITA
Short track returns to the Palavela 11 months after the 2006 Winter Games with races scheduled for Jan. 23-26. The U.S. short track team competing there consists of Kyle Carr, Derek Gray, Nicholas Frank, Al Johnson, Levi Kirkpatrick, Erica Lanser, Sonia Milan, Katherine Reutter and Cherise Wilkins
USOEC | USOEC skaters in Italy
CP | Speedskaters head to World University Games
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Posted by noelle at 11:01 PM | Comments (74)