Canadian Roundup: Records, sweeps, medals, Milos and more
Mikael Kingsbury celebrates winning World Cup event at Val Saint-Come, Quebec on January 23, 2016.
If the New Year’s resolution for Canadian athletes was to own the podium, they’re on the right track, landing 10 World Cup medals and two podium sweeps this weekend.
In addition to their medals, the Dufour-Lapointe sisters made World Cup history, while Kaillie Humphries and Melissa Lotholz broke an Olympic medal-winning track record in Whistler. That’s just two of the many highlights.
Bobsleigh
READ: Humphries and Spring deliver double gold
Kaillie Humphries and Melissa Lotholz destroyed the track record set by Humphries and Heather Moyse at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, as they claimed their fourth World Cup title of the season. Christopher Spring and Lascelles Brown made their World Cup podium debut in men’s two-man, also winning gold.
Moguls
READ: Sisters sweep, Kingsbury rules in Quebec
(L-R) Maxime, Justine and Chloe Dufour-Lapointe celebrate their World Cup podium sweep at Val Saint-Come, Quebec on January 23, 2016.
On Saturday, the Dufour-Lapointe sisters became the first Canadians – and siblings – to sweep a moguls World Cup podium after Justine, Chloe and Maxime demolished the field, finishing first through third respectively. On the men’s side Mikael Kingsbury won his second World Cup event this season, increasing his record for most World Cup titles to 30 in front of home fans in Val Saint-Come, Quebec.
Snowboard
Mark McMorris (centre), Tyler Nicholson (left) and Seb Toutant complete a Canadian podium sweep at Laax Open in Switzerland on January 23, 2016 (Photo: Chris Witwicki via Canada Snowboard).
Away from the World Cup circuit, the men’s slopestyle team took the term sweep to a whole new level, finishing first through fifth at the Laax Open in Switzerland on Friday. The Canadians’ unreal performance was lead by Olympic bronze medallist Mark McMorris (91.40) followed by Tyler Nicholson (84.35), Sebastien Toutant (83.10), Darcy Sharpe (82.30) and Michael Ciccarelli (81.10).
Ski Cross
READ: Thompson wins, Leman third at home
Marielle Thompson, centre, following her first place finish at the women’s World Cup ski cross event at Nakiska Ski resort in Kananaskis, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.
Olympic gold medallist Marielle Thompson defended her 2015 Nakiska World Cup title in Alberta, as she clinched her third World Cup victory of the season. Brady Leman also repeated his bronze medal finish from last weekend in Italy, after a tight battle in men’s ski cross.
Ski Slopestyle
Olympian Yuki Tsubota won her first World Cup title – and medal – of the season at the U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain on Sunday. The Canadian won with a score of 84.40 beating out second place Giulia Tanno (77.40) from Switzerland and Sweden’s Emma Dahlstrom (76.20) who came third.
Downhill Skiing
READ: Yurkiw lands third consecutive podium
Larisa Yurkiw (left) on the World Cup podium with Lindsey Vonn (centre) and Lara Gut at Cortina d’Ampezzo on January 23, 2016.
Larisa Yurkiw continued her impressive alpine season, with another World Cup silver medal in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Saturday. This was Larisa’s third podium finish of the season after claiming the bronze at Val d’Isere and silver in Altenmarkt.
Tennis
READ: Raonic beats Wawrinka in Australia
Milos Raonic celebrates his five-set victory over Stan Wawrinka at the Australian Open quarterfinals on July 25, 2016.
Milos Ranic advanced the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday, after beating world number four Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3. Next up, the Canadian will go head to head with France’s Gael Monfils.
READ: Nestor, Pospisil doubles teams in quarterfinals
Vasek Pospisil and American partner Jack Sock as well as Daniel Nestor and his teammate Radek Stepanek from the Czech Republic also advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals. If both pairs win their matches on Monday night, the Canadians will face off in the men’s doubles semifinals.
