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Date of Birth: 11/07/79 |
Place of Birth: Bromont, QC |
Residence: Bromont, QC |
Height: 6'0" |
Weight: 196 lbs |
Going to the Olympic Games, wasn't in Jerome Sylvestre's game plan this season. He felt he was still learning the ropes and wanted to gain some international experience on the World Cup circuit. Suddenly he posted 14th and eighth place finishes in the parallel giant slalom at the World Cup stops this past December in Whistler and Mont-Ste-Anne and had earned the Olympic criteria to go to the Games. He made the team at the final World Cup before the cut-off date in January.
"I had never made a top-16 before this season," said Sylvestre. "But after my result at Whistler I suddenly felt a new pressure but I tried to take the Olympics as a bonus if I made it. But I knew I had a lot of speed and I gained more confidence."
Sylvestre started snowboarding at age nine when he received a board as a Christmas gift. Previously he was a skiing regular at his local hill in Bromont. He started competing only five years ago.
Last year he went through his toughest season when he sprained his ankle which affected his training over the summer.
"Realistically my goal at the Olympics is get out of the qualifying round," said Sylvestre. "Once you get in the playoff round anything can happen."
What Canada Did
Feb. 15 - Men's parallel giant slalom: Jerome Sylvestre, Bromont, Que., eliminated in round one heats.
Feb. 14 - Men's parallel giant slalom: Jerome Sylvestre, Bromont, Que., finished sixth in a field of 32 qualifiers, advanced to final
2002 Games Snowboarding Coverage
