Beijing 2022 Olympics Day 5 recap: Canadians win two medals, men's curling gets underway
Steven Dubois and Meryeta O’Dine add to Canada's medal tally
A pair of Canadian athletes making their Olympic debuts in Beijing won medals on day five of the Games, as Meryeta O’Dine picked up bronze in the women’s snowboard cross, and Steven Dubois won silver in the men’s 1500m short track event.
Both 24 years old, the pair are both at their first Olympics after coming close to competing in 2018. Dubois was a reserve for the team and didn’t take part, while O’Dine suffered a concussion in training in Pyeongchang. The concussion, combined with cuts and bruises to her face forced her to withdraw, and she made the most of her second chance.
After finishing third in the seeding run, before winning her next three heats to qualify for the big final and a shot at the medals. Wearing the red bib, O’Dine finished third, behind long-time snowboard cross competitor Lindsey Jacobellis, who finally won her first Olympic gold after finishing second at Torino 2006 following a crash right at the end of the race prevented her from winning then.
Chloé Trespeuch of France won the silver, just ahead of O’Dine. Fellow Canadian Tess Critchlow lost in the semifinals, and crossed the line second in the small final to finish 6th overall. Canadians Audrey McManiman and Zoe Bergermann were both knocked out in the quarterfinals.
In the men’s 1500m short track event, Steven Dubois won the silver medal after a photo finish in an abnormally large race featuring 10 skaters. Multiple athletes were penalized in the semifinals, including Canadian legend Charles Hamelin, leading to extra athletes advancing to the final.
Dubois was near the front of the pack for a lot of the race, and despite a late lunge from Russian Olympic Committee’s Semion Elistratov, Dubois held onto second after a photo finish. Hwang Dae-heon of South Korea won gold.
Like Hamelin, Canadian Pascal Dion was also eliminated in the semifinals.
Also in short track, Courtney Sarault and Alyson Charles advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s 1000m event. Sarault won her heat, and Charles advances as a result of being obstructed in her heat. Kim Boutin led her race right up until the final turn, when she slipped, and as a result won’t be advancing in the event that she won a silver medal in at Pyeongchang 2018.
In the women’s 3000m relay, Sarault, Charles, Boutin and Florence Brunelle won their semifinal and will compete in the final.
Evan McEachran competed for Canada in the men’s freestyle skiing big air competition, finishing ninth. He completed his first trick, earning a score of 93.00 and sitting in second place after one run. His second two tricks weren't landed, and he missed the podium in the inaugural ski big air Olympic event, but will have another chance to impress in the slopestyle event.
Switching from freestyle skiing to alpine skiing, four Canadians took part in the women's slalom. Erin Mielzynski was the top Canadian, finishing in 16th, just ahead of Laurence St-Germain in 17th. Ali Nullmeyer finished in up 21st, and Amelia Smart ended up in 27th.
The final medal event involving Canadians was the men's doubles luge. Tristan Walker and Justin Snith competed for Canada, finishing in 7th place.
A pair of Canadians advanced to the final of the women’s snowboard halfpipe on day five, including Canada’s youngest athlete in Beijing. 16-year-old Brooke D’Hondt qualified 10th in her Olympic debut, while Elizabeth Hosking finished just ahead in ninth and will also be competing in the final on day six. In the men’s halfpipe qualifiers Liam Gill competed for Canada, and finished 23rd, outside the top 12 riders that will move on.
Men's curling also got underway, with Canada — Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker — taking on Denmark. Canada won the match 10-5, ending the game with a three-point eighth end.
What’s happening on day 6?
3000m bronze medalist Isabelle Weidemann takes to the ice again in search of medal number two of Beijing 2022, skating in the women's 5000m long track event. Ivanie Blondin withdrew from the event “in collaboration with Blondin, her coach and support staff to maximize Team Canada’s performance in the upcoming team pursuit event”, according to a press release.
In men's figure skating, Keegan Messing will compete in the free skate, needing a huge performance if he's going to challenge for the medals. He finished ninth in the short program, not long after arriving in Beijing following a nightmare of journey just to get to the Games.
The women's snowboard halfpipe final will take place, featuring Canadians Elizabeth Hosking and Brooke D’Hondt among the 12-athlete group. They finished 9th and 10th in qualification, respectively.
Staying on the snowboard, Eliot Grondin, Liam Moffatt and Kevin Hill will all compete in the men's snowboard cross, looking to follow in Meryeta O’Dine’s footsteps after she won a bronze medal in the women's event on day five.
In alpine skiing, the men's downhill combined event takes place — which is one downhill run and one slalom run. The times are convinced, with the fastest racer the winner. Broderick Thompson, Jack Crawford, Trevor Philp and Brodie Seger will all compete for Canada.
In cross country skiing, the women’s 10km classic interval start race will take place. Canadian Cendrine Browne will start second, Dahria Beatty 10th, Katherine Stewart-Jones 24th, and Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt will start 79th.
The mixed team aerials event in freestyle skiing is making its debut at Beijing 2022, and gets underway on day six. Each athlete on the teams of three will make one jump, with the four highest scoring teams moving on to the next round and a shot at the medals. The Canadian Olympic Committee hasn't announced yet who will compete for them in the event.
The final luge event of the Games will take place at the Yanqing Sliding Centre on day six, with the mixed team relay event. Trinity Ellis will start, then Reid Watts, and then doubles lugers Tristan Walker and Justin Snith. Ellis finished 14th in the women's individual event, Watts finished 17th in the men's, and Walker/Snith were 7th in the men's doubles.
Training runs also begin in women’s monobob and men’s two-man bobsleigh, with several Canada hoping to get some final preparation in before the actual competition begins.
Canadian athletes competing in non-medal events on day 6:
The Canadian men’s ice hockey team begins their tournament, taking on Germany at the Wukesong Sports Centre. Canada won bronze in 2018, and Germany won the silver, their Olympic first medal in the sport since 1976, losing in overtime to the Olympic Athletes From Russia.
The Canadian women’s curling team also begin play on day six, with the team led by skip Jennifer Jones taking on South Korea. The men’s team play their second round robin game as well, taking on Norway.
Blake Enzie is the lone Canadian representative in men’s skeleton, with the first two heats taking place on day six.
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