Sport Shorts: Olympic Paddlers Shine in Montreal
Stirring the Waters: The stars were out in Montreal on the weekend at the national canoe-kayak championships that featured a host of Olympic paddlers. In what has developed into a great rivalry between two great Olympians, Mark Oldershaw (Burlington, Ont.) outraced 2008 bronze medallist Thomas Hall (Pointe-Claire, Que.) for gold in the C-1 1,000 metres. Both are medal threats in this event at any international event, as are many of these paddlers. In the women’s K-1 500 metres, two more Olympians went head to head with Montreal’s Émilie Fournel snatching gold and Ottawa’s Kristin Gauthier taking silver.
Richard Dalton (Halifax) won two gold medals Saturday, taking the C-1 200 metres before teaming with Benjamin Russell (Dartmouth, N.S.) to win the C-2 1,000-metre race. Laurence Vincent-Lapointe (Trois-Rivières, Que.) also counted two victories in the C-1 200 metres and in the C-2 500 metres with Mallorie Nicholson (Oakville, Ont.). Other winners included Angus Mortimer (Ottawa) in K-1 500 metres and both Andrew Willows (Gananoque, Ont.) and Kia Byers (Regina) in the men’s and women’s K-1 200-metre sprint.
Boudreau-Gagnon on a Roll: Synchronized swimmer Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon is having a May to remember. The native of Rivière-du-Loup, Que. won her third gold medal this month by taking the solo free event at the China Open over the weekend. Then on Monday she capped off the competition with another gold medal in the technical event.
Lopes-Schliep Warming Up: Canada’s top athletics medal threat, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, was second on May 14 in the 100-metre hurdles. The native of Whitby, Ont. was competing in the new Diamond League, its first event in Doha, Qatar. She crossed in 12.67 seconds, with teammate Perdita Felicien finishing fourth in 12.73 seconds. Canada’s top “field” athlete (of track and field) is Dylan Armstrong in shot put. The Kamloops, B.C. native was fourth.
Can They Do It? The men’s national hockey team seeks a world title to go along with Olympic gold won in February. The team, whose roster is far different than in Vancouver, plays the Czech Republic Tuesday (10:15 a.m. ET) and will play a quarter-final on Thursday, opponent TBA.
More Action in the Water: Canada’s women’s water polo team today begins a FINA World League tournament in Puerto Rico, an important event that will determine qualifications for the Super League Final June 28 to July 3. To make it there, Canada must finish in the top-two out of the U.S., Puerto Rico and Brazil.
