Canadian Olympic Foundation
Day four proves golden for Team Canada at YOG
The Canadian Youth Olympic Team tripled their medal haul on Day Four at the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games, as luger Brooke Apshkrum and ski-crosser Reece Howden added two golds to Canada’s existing medal count.
Brooke Apshkrum slid her way to first place in the women’s singles luge event. Brooke, born and raised in Calgary, was tied for second after her first bomb down the 12-corner track that hosted the 1994 Olympic Winter Games.
The 16-year-old saved her best for last with a near flawless run on her second bomb down the icy chute with a time of 52.861. Her combined winning time was 1:46.026. The win was the first international podium of her young career.
Silver Medallist Jessica Tiebel GER, Gold Medallist Brooke Apshkrum CAN and Bronze Medallist Madeleine Egle AUT (left to right) pose on the medal podium of the Luge Women’s Singles at Lillehammer Olympic Sliding Centre during the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Lillehammer, Norway, 15 February 2016. Photo: Jon Buckle for YIS/IOC Handout image supplied by YIS/IOC
Watch her final run:
Later in the afternoon, Reece Howden (Cultus Lake, B.C.) chased his way to gold in the men’s freestyle skiing ski cross event.
Reece Howden CAN (Left) and Cornel Renn GER compete during the Men’s Ski Cross at the Hafjell Freepark at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Lillehammer Norway, 15 February 2016. Photo: Arnt Folvik for YIS/IOC Handout image supplied by YIS/IOC
The 17-year-old finished third in the qualifying run, before proceeding to win every heat all the way to the big final.
Reece, favoured in the event, has been competing in ski cross for little over a year.
Reid Watts of Whistler, B.C. won bronze in the men’s singles luge on day three. All three athletes have another opportunity to medal tomorrow. Reid and Brooke will compete alongside doubles pair Adam Shippit and Matthew Riddle in the luge team relay and Reid will join teammates Zoe Chore and Evan Bichon in the team ski-snowboard cross event, a new event which is making its YOG debut in Lillehammer.
