Laurent Dubreuil finally has it, his Olympic medal.
A week after experiencing a bitter disappointment in the 500 meters where he failed to confirm his favorite status in his favorite event by failing at the foot of the podium, Laurent Dubreuil recovered well by winning the medal of silver in the 1000m.
The performance capped a productive day for Canada, which added four medals to its tally to 24 (4-7-13).
Earlier in the day, Cassie Sharpe and Rachael Karker gave Canada a double in the women’s freestyle halfpipe event.
Sharpe, the reigning Olympic champion, earned the silver medal ahead of her friend and teammate Karker.
The two Canadians couldn’t match the performance of young Chinese sensation Eileen Gu, who won gold, her third medal of these Games.
At the Ice Cube, Canada defeated American John Shuster 8-5 to claim the bronze medal, following a semi-final loss to Sweden’s Niklas Edin.
A great surprise
Skating in the last pair, 29-year-old Dubreuil made an explosive start and managed to maintain a good pace to cross the finish line 40 tenths of a second behind the winner, Dutchman Thomas Krol.
“Today my start was even better than usual, my first lap too, analyzed Dubreuil after his race. I was then able to keep my technique to stay on the podium. »
He admitted that he struggled to turn the page after his 500m.
“Honestly, it’s been a tough week. My goal in the 500m was not just to win a medal, but to win the race. […] It was difficult not to accept, but to realize that I had not been able (to do it).
“In the 1000m, I thought to myself that if I am able to have a good race, to skate lighter than in the 500m, to have a better execution and to keep my technique at the end, maybe it will be enough. And unlike the 500m, I had no expectations. »
The formula worked wonders and he was rewarded for it.
An example of resilience
Sharpe, meanwhile, described the horrific injury and subsequent recovery as going back and forth to hell.
The 29-year-old British Columbian had won gold at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018 and had to defend her Olympic crown when she fractured her femur and tore ligaments in her left knee during a a fall at the X Games, in January 2021.
Reconstructive surgery, followed by nine months of physical rehabilitation and just four months of skiing, paid off for Sharpe. She got her hands on the silver medal.
“Coming to these Games after being sidelined for nine months, I knew it would take a lot to be on the podium,” said Sharpe. It’s incredibly special. I’m very proud of myself and just grateful that I put all the pieces of the puzzle together today. »
Meanwhile, a quartet of Canadian skiers fell short of expectations in ski cross.
Alberta’s Brady Leman, defending champion, came the closest. The 35-year-old skier lost in the semi-final before finishing second in the small final for sixth place overall.
Leman won ski cross gold in Pyeongchang in 2018.
“I would have loved to continue with a medal or win again, but I’m really proud of this race, he reacted. The last two years have been so difficult, with so many injuries and obstacles, and there have been so many times when I didn’t think I had a chance to defend that medal and I did. »
Canada was heavily favored to be on the podium at this event.
British Columbian Reece Howden won the Crystal Globe for the 2020-21 season. Torontonian Kevin Drury won the Crystal Globe the previous season. And Ottawa’s Jared Schmidt won bronze at two World Cup events last year. They were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Gushue saves the day
Canada’s honor in curling is safe. Brad Gushue defeated American John Shuster 8-5 to secure the bronze medal at the Ice Cube.
The Canadians scored two in the eighth end and stole two more in the ninth to come from behind for the victory.
“I think our team fought hard and persevered to come out with the bronze medal,” Gushue said. It was clear to every curling fan that we weren’t at our best this week. I am very proud to be on the podium. »
For Gushue and his teammate Mark Nichols, it is a second Olympic medal after the gold won in Turin in 2006.