Canada on top despite shock defeat in curling
Source: Agencies |
February 28, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CANADA moved top of the Olympic gold charts with two days to go on Friday and its beloved ice hockey team got out of a close scrape to set up a mouth-watering closing-day final with the United States.
Another Canadian with a, newly won, cult following in Vancouver also found herself in a tight spot as more gold looked there for the taking but for once the coolest hand in women's curling took aim - and missed - in a heart-stopping climax to the final with Sweden (7-6).
"You could not ask for an easier shot," said tearful skip Cheryl Bernard after missing the opportunity to knock a couple of Swedish stones out with her final effort.
China won the bronze by beating Switzerland 12-6.
The loss of gold in the temple of curling piled pressure not only on Canada's unbeaten men's team in the final against Norway but also on the other Winter Games sport in which Canadians demand dominance - hockey.
The Canadian men, supposedly destined to claim gold in the Games finale of a sport which is more akin to religion here, nearly fluffed their lines too as unheralded Slovakia battled back from three down before the hosts prevailed 3-2. The US had earlier thrashed Finland 6-1.
Canada, who only days ago was lamenting its lack of medals, stood alone on top of the standings with 10 golds, ahead of Germany on nine.
German skier Maria Riesch grabbed her second gold medal of the Winter Olympics in the slalom on a snowy and foggy Whistler Mountain, while her friend Lindsey Vonn went out when she straddled a gate.
On Cypress Mountain, Nicolien Sauerbreij of the Netherlands raced through a driving rainstorm and fog to win gold in parallel giant slalom snowboarding.
Norway's men powered through a snowstorm to win the 4x7.5km biathlon relay, with anchorman Ole Einar Bjoerndalen moving within one medal of the leading Winter Olympic tally of 12.
Another Canadian with a, newly won, cult following in Vancouver also found herself in a tight spot as more gold looked there for the taking but for once the coolest hand in women's curling took aim - and missed - in a heart-stopping climax to the final with Sweden (7-6).
"You could not ask for an easier shot," said tearful skip Cheryl Bernard after missing the opportunity to knock a couple of Swedish stones out with her final effort.
China won the bronze by beating Switzerland 12-6.
The loss of gold in the temple of curling piled pressure not only on Canada's unbeaten men's team in the final against Norway but also on the other Winter Games sport in which Canadians demand dominance - hockey.
The Canadian men, supposedly destined to claim gold in the Games finale of a sport which is more akin to religion here, nearly fluffed their lines too as unheralded Slovakia battled back from three down before the hosts prevailed 3-2. The US had earlier thrashed Finland 6-1.
Canada, who only days ago was lamenting its lack of medals, stood alone on top of the standings with 10 golds, ahead of Germany on nine.
German skier Maria Riesch grabbed her second gold medal of the Winter Olympics in the slalom on a snowy and foggy Whistler Mountain, while her friend Lindsey Vonn went out when she straddled a gate.
On Cypress Mountain, Nicolien Sauerbreij of the Netherlands raced through a driving rainstorm and fog to win gold in parallel giant slalom snowboarding.
Norway's men powered through a snowstorm to win the 4x7.5km biathlon relay, with anchorman Ole Einar Bjoerndalen moving within one medal of the leading Winter Olympic tally of 12.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
