Gangwon 2024: Team Canada at the end of Day 7
GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA (January 26, 2024) – The Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games passed the halfway mark today, on Day 7. As many of the athletes competing in Week 1 sports have finished competition, and most of the athletes competing in Week 2 sports began their pre-competition training days, only six Team Canada athletes in two sports were in competition action today.
ALPINE SKIING
The alpine events at Jeongseon High 1 Ski Resort wrapped up with the mixed team parallel, which is raced on a slalom course. Aida Draghia (Chateauguay, Que.) and Thomas ‘Tommy’ Carnahan (Ottawa, Ont.) made up Canada’s entry. In the 1/8 final, Draghia and Carnahan raced Team France, which included an athlete who won gold in the men’s giant slalom and bronze in the men’s slalom. The Canadians raced admirably against the tough opponent with four very close results, but did not advance into the quarterfinals. Reflecting on their entire Youth Olympic Games journey, all three of Team Canada’s alpine ski athletes, including Elsa Feliciello (Piedmont, Que.), shared how valuable this experience had been for them.
“The event was unreal! It was so fun to see all these skiers from all different countries here, I met a lot of good people and overall it was an amazing experience. I think the biggest lesson that I got out of this experience was to have more confidence because that’s what makes you a better skier overall.”
– Elsa Feliciello
“It was amazing! I can’t even believe I’m here right now, it’s just an amazing experience and I’m so honoured to be here. We have an amazing team, and it’s so fun – the whole ambience of Team Canada, I will remember this forever.”
– Aida Draghia
This mixed team parallel event allowed for an especially unique and rewarding experience for Draghia and Carnahan, who had attended a ski camp in Panorama, B.C at the U-14 level together. They had built a friendship, but hadn’t raced together until reuniting at these Youth Olympic Games.
“This was a great experience. It was really fun, and great to be with the team. Skiing is a pretty independent sport so this event was a great change and it was really fun to ski with Aida today, and with Elsa earlier on.”
– Tommy Carnahan
FREESTYLE SKIING
Team Canada’s moguls skiers, Citrine Boychuk (Sherwood Park, Alta.), Bradley Koehler (Quebec, Que.), Flavie Lamontagne (Quebec, Que.) and Jeremy Sauvageau (Montreal, Que.) competed in the mixed team dual moguls, with Boychuk and Sauvageau teaming up as Canada 1 and Lamontagne and Koehler teaming up as Canada 2. Koehler and Lamontagne finished their day in the 1/8 finals, while Boychuk and Sauvageau qualified for the quarterfinals, finishing the day in seventh place.
“First run was really good, sadly I got a little back on the tails of my skis for the second run and it didn’t go as I wanted, but overall I’m pretty happy with how my skiing went. The whole experience has been pretty cool, I’m really happy that I got to come here and represent Canada. It’s just been awesome, everyone’s really kind and the support has been great.”
– Citrine Boychuk
“This course was very nice to ski and I gave it my all out there! It’s a really nice experience being here, and really cool to have a real ‘Olympic’ experience. When I was a kid, I saw Alexandre Bilodeau’s run from the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and it was my dream to ski like that in the future. So since then, I always still watch this run because it’s such an inspiration to me. I look up to him and want to ski like him, so skiing here at the Youth Olympic Games is really cool for me.”
– Jeremy Sauvageau
Tomorrow, the moguls skiers and slopestyle / big air athletes will be back in action. Tomorrow will also mark the start of Team Canada’s competition in mixed doubles curling, figure skating and hockey.
For full Team Canada results from Day 7, click here.
SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS – JANUARY 27 (Day 8) / JANUARY 28 (Day 9)
*The “Potential / Comp. possible” column represents a potential phase of competition should a competitor advance. Rows in red are medal events.
TEAM CANADA MEDAL COUNT:
Gold – 0 | Silver – 2 | Bronze – 0
HOW TO WATCH:
As the official Gangwon 2024 broadcaster in Canada, CBC/Radio-Canada will provide coverage of the Games on cbcsports.ca, radio-canada.ca/sports and the CBC Sports app.
The Olympic Channel also has coverage of Gangwon 2024, live-streamed on their free app.
RESOURCES:
PHOTOS: Submit a request to Tara (tmacbournie@olympic.ca) for editorial photos from images.olympic.ca. Additional photos for editorial use only are available to media at oisphotos.com
VISIT: Olympic.ca/press-resources/ for athlete bios and other Gangwon 2024 information.
FOLLOW: @teamcanadapr on Twitter (X)
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Tara MacBournie, Team Canada’s Gangwon 2024 Communications Lead
Canadian Olympic Committee
WhatsApp: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca