Sport Shorts: Success on Land and Water
Rome Sweet Rome for Aquatics: Canada made a splash at the 2009 FINA World Aquatics Championship, taking home nine medals. Ryan Cochrane’s second medal of the meet, silver in the men’s 1,500-metre freestyle event, capped off the competition. The women’s water polo team joined Cochrane on the second wrung of the podium after being edged 7-6 by the United States. All told, Canada scored three medals in swimming, three medals in diving, two in synchronized swimming and the ladies’ water polo silver.
Home Sweet Home for Paddlers: Five-time Olympian David Ford led the Canadian contingent to six medals at the 2009 Pan American white water slalom paddling championships in Kananaskis, Alta. James Cartwright (men’s C-1 canoe singles), Sindy Audet (women’s C-1 canoe singles), Jessica Groeneveld (women’s K-2 kayak doubles) and Ben Hayward and Cameron Smedley (men’s C-2 canoe doubles) all struck gold in Rocky Mountain country. Dan Purcell and Tom Purcell earned bronze in the men’s C-2 canoe doubles. The world championships are up next month in Spain.
Super Run at the Super Grand Prix: Priscilla Lopes-Schliep is in fine form ahead of the world championships in Germany. The 2008 Olympic bronze medallist took gold in the 100-metre hurdles at the Super Grand Prix in Stockholm, Sweden. Two of her teammates were just off the podium. Fellow hurdler Perdita Felicien was fifth in the event, while Dylan Armstrong was fourth in the shot put.
Kabush Nabs First WC Win: Heavy rains and a muddy track couldn’t keep Geoff Kabush from his first mountain bike win on the World Cup circuit. Kabush took gold at the cross country event in Bromont, Que. Teammate Catharine Pendrel followed up her gold-medal performace from last week with a bronze medal in Bromont.
Skating for an Olympic Ticket: More than 30 Canadian speed skaters will compete for nine spots on the Canadian Olympic Team at the team trials in Vancouver, starting August 9th. Charles Hamelin has been nominated to the team by virtue of finishing third in cumulative points at the last world championship, leaving openings for only four men and five women. Speed Skaters will be nominated to the Canadian Olympic Team August 26th and the team will be named this winter.
