Friday, February 15, 2002
Cat-quick race to the gold
By ERIC FRANCIS -- Calgary Sun
KEARNS, Utah -- This time, there is no controversy.
Catriona Le May Doan successfully defended her Olympic 500-metre speed skating crown last night to become Canada's first official gold medallist of these Games.
And no judge can take this one away.
"I don't think one medal ever makes up for another one," said Le May Doan, referring to the figure skating scandal that cost Jamie Sale and David Pelletier pairs gold on Monday.
"I just hope this gets everybody excited. We know it should be two gold by now, but we can't change the past."
Unfortunately, Le May Doan will have to wait a while to wear her new hardware. She won't receive her medal until today in a downtown Salt Lake City ceremony that had to be rescheduled because she got caught in traffic last night.
In the midst of one of the most dominating streaks in speed skating history that has seen her lose just once in almost two full years, the 31-year-old Saskatoon native easily out-skated German Monique Barbrecht-Enfeldt in the final pairing of the night to win the two-race competition by a combined .19 seconds. It marked her slimmest margin of victory this year.
Thrusting her hands in the air and circling the rink with her husband's cowboy hat and flags representing both Canada and Saskatchewan, the win came as a tremendous relief to the longtime Calgary resident, who was pushed hard by the German who sat just .04 behind heading into last night's showdown.
"After (Wednesday) I was very angry with myself," said Le May Doan, who skated the world's fourth-fastest time Wednesday (37.30).
"She really pushed me. I just had to skate a normal race (last night), but I just put so much pressure on myself. It was an emotional day and at times I found myself literally in tears."
Given the figure skating scandal and the shocking fall by Jeremy Wotherspoon just four strides into his 500-metre race, she also felt the pressure of a nation desperate for good news.
"We've had an unfortunate five days or so, but we've shown we're a classy team," said Le May Doan, who won 1,000-metre bronze in Nagano, as well as a 500-metre gold.
Canadian Olympic Association president Mike Chambers said it was relief to have Canada's golden girl on top again.
"No matter if we had been through what we've been through for the last few days or not, your first gold medal is important -- it's a boost," said Chambers, one of many Canadians at the Utah Olympic Oval.
While many expected Catriona to take advantage of the fast ice and altitude that led to world records in two of the first three events, she insists her only goal was winning gold. She even joked about suggestions she would consider pulling up to preserve the record time (37.22) she proudly set in Calgary.
"The record didn't matter -- with 50 metres left I knew it was enough," said Le May Doan, who skated a 37.45 that would have infuriated her under normal circumstances.
Le May Doan, who plans on skating one more year before starting a family, skates in her last Olympic race Sunday.
2002 Games Columnists
