Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Add Reply
t Chicago that point guard Darren Collison missed with a sprained right middle finger.The Hamilton T
Topic Started: May 15 2014, 01:45 PM (9 Views)
zake201
Administrator
MONTREAL -- Going home empty-handed from the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver made Valerie Maltais more determined than ever to win at least one medal at the next Olympics. Since Vancouver, the 22-year-old has become one of the top skaters on the Canadian short-track speed skating team and she wants to be even better at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. "I focused more after the Olympics," Maltais said Tuesday at the national team training centre at the Maurice Richard Arena. "I saw what it was to be on the top so I wanted to be better. "At the Olympics, it wasnt the performance of my life. I saw what I had to do. I had to focus and train more." Maltais was 19 at the Vancouver Games when she finished 14th in the 1,500-metre event and then was left off the four-woman relay team. She watched her teammates, led by Marianne St-Gelais, bask in the glow of winning silver medals on home ice, while on the mens side Charles Hamelin won the 5,000 metres and helped Canada to another gold in the relay. "I turned that emotion into motivation," the now 22-year-old Maltais said. "When Im having a hard time at practice, I always remember what happened at the Olympics and it kind of gives me energy to finish practice." Maltais will be a leader on the Canadian team that will begin the fall portion of the World Cup season, which begins Oct. 19-21 in Calgary, followed by another meet Oct. 26-28 in Montreal. Other World Cups begin Nov. 30 in Japan and Dec. 7 in Shanghai. She was named Speed Skating Canadas female athlete of the year for the 2011-12 season after finishing second overall at the world championships in Shanghai, which included a gold medal in the 3,000-metre race and bronze at 1,000 metres. "She was really strong," said Yves Hamelin, the teams program director. "By a little bit, she could have been (overall) world champion. "She fell on her own at the start of the 500 metres and she was the fastest in the previous rounds, so it was impressive. Her performance is still moving up. Shes gaining experience and confidence. In terms of the timing for Sochi, shell be solid." She is joined on the womens World Cup team by St-Gelais, of St-Felicien, Que., Marie-Eve Drolet of Laterriere, Que., Jessica Gregg of Edmonton, Jessica Hewitt of Kamloops, B.C., and Caroline Truchon of Chicoutimi, Que. The mens team has Charles Hamelin and his brother Francois, both of Ste-Julie, Que., along with Guillaume Bastille of Riviere-du-Loup, Que., Michael Gilday of Yellowknife, Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que., and Liam McFarlane of Medicine Hat, Alta. The womens side was shaken at the end of last season when its French coach Sebastien Cros left without warning after five years on the job to become coach of the Russian team. Yves Hamelin called it "shocking," but he is confident the women wont skip a beat with new coach Frederic Blackburn, a double silver medallist at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. He had been assistant coach of the mens development team. "My primary objective was to find someone who would make the least transition possible, someone with the same philosophy," said Hamelin. "Frederic shared the philosophy of Sebastien, so the athletes arent in too much of a different environment." The test will come at the next four World Cups. Hamelin said that as well as gaining international experience, the team will get a look at new faces among their top opponents, led by the South Koreans who have made extensive changes since last season. South Korea is the all-time leader in Olympic short-track medals with 37, followed by Canada with 25, China with 24 and the United States with 18. The women will once again have to face Chinese star Wang Meng, who is back after a two-year hiatus. The Russians are also expected to be a factor in their build-up to 2014. After the fall season, new selections will be held for the final World Cups in February in Dresden, Germany and in Sochi, where skaters will see the Olympic venue for the first time. Maltais wants to be there. "Its exciting to see the city how the venue is," she said. "It will make us feel more that we want to be at the Olympics because you can put an image on your dream." For Maltais, that image includes a medal around her neck. "Thats the goal," she said. "You dont go to the Olympics just to be there. "I already did that in Vancouver. I already went to the Olympic just for the experience. Now that part of my life is done and Im going for the podium." wholesale nfl jerseys . -- The Colorado Rapids have re-signed 25-year-old goalkeeper Steward Ceus, who had shutouts in his two MLS starts last season. cheap nfl jerseys . He wasnt complaining. On his way to some NFL history, Wilson was told to be an observer for the final 25 minutes of Seattles 58-0 rout of the inept Arizona Cardinals. http://www.wholesalejerseyfreeshipping.us/ . The team said Morrow suffered a left oblique strain. Hes listed as day-to-day. Morrow felt something was not right after he threw ball two on a 1-1 pitch to Bryce Harper. wholesale jerseys . -- Different horse, same result for Luis Contreras. cheap jerseys . The 38-year-old Fisher, who has played 16 NBA seasons with four teams, could make his Dallas debut in Saturday nights home game against Detroit. The Mavericks (7-9) have lost three games in a row and eight of 11, including a 101-78 loss Wednesday at Chicago that point guard Darren Collison missed with a sprained right middle finger.The Hamilton Tiger-Cats acquired import defensive lineman Torrey Davis from the Calgary Stampeders in exchange for future considerations. Davis joined the Stampeders in 2011 after stints with the NFLs Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Arena Football Leagues Spokane Shock. In 18 games over two seasons in Calgary, Davis registered 28 defensive tackles and one quarterback sack.dddddddddddd This season, Davis has made 16 tackles and one sack in eight games. The Stampeders have also released import offensive lineman Richard Muldrow from the practice roster. ' ' '
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Announcements & News · Next Topic »
Add Reply