Speedskating-online

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

So far, it has been a great season for Lucas Makowsky. He raced to his first individual World Cup medal, in the 1500m in Hamar, after which he went on to qualify for the Olympic 1500m and 5000m by finishing first in both distances at the Canadian Single Distances Championships/Olympic Trials in Calgary. On top of that, he continuously managed to improve his personal best times in the 1500m as well as the 5000m over the past few months. With the Olympics just around the corner, Makowsky talks about his season so far and reflects on how he is looking forward to what will be his first Olympic Games.

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Friday, 25 December 2009

One of the biggest surprises of the Canadian Fall World Cup Trials in Richmond last October was Anastasia Bucsis. Seemingly out of nowhere, the Talent Squad member claimed the overall bronze medal in the 500m, thereby securing a spot on a World Cup team for the very first time. With the Canadian Single Distances Championships/Olympic Trials just around the corner, Bucsis looks back on her World Cup experiences in Europe and North America and talks about the Olympics, her idols, the meaning of life, and her goals for this season.

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Wednesday, 16 December 2009

It has been a good season for Richard MacLennan thus far. At the Canadian Fall World Cup Trials in Richmond last October, the 18-year-old qualified for the alternate spot in the 1000m, and second alternate spot in the 500m, which in the end earned him an actual spot on a World Cup team for the first time after some of the Canadian sprinters decided to skip the World Cups in Berlin and/or Heerenveen. This gave MacLennan the opportunity to skate two 500m’s and a 1000m in Berlin and another 1000m in Heerenveen. After Heerenveen, MacLennan went back home to compete at the Junior World Cup in Calgary, where he raced to some great results, including two Canadian junior records.

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Wednesday, 2 December 2009

At the Canadian Fall World Cup Trials in Richmond last October, Mykola Makowsky finished 4th in the 1500m, thereby securing a spot on a World Cup team for the very first time. As a result, he debuted at the World Cup in Berlin a few weeks ago, where he competed in the 1000m and 1500m, after which he traveled to Heerenveen to skate another 1500m. Back home in Calgary, Makowsky reflects on his first World Cup experiences, and looks forward to the rest of this Olympic season.

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Wednesday, 4 November 2009

After a season that was for the largest part overshadowed by an injury that he sustained at the second World Cup, in Heerenveen, Vincent Labrie thus far has succeeded in giving this Olympic season a good start. He already raced to some fast times at the weekend trials in Calgary and looks back on a good Fall World Cup Selection in Richmond, where he finished second in the 500m after two solid races. These results have shown him that he is now fully recovered from his injury and is ready for the season to come.

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Friday, 23 October 2009

At the last Olympic Winter Games, in Torino in 2006, Enrico Fabris skated to two gold medals (1500m and Team Pursuit) and a bronze medal (5000m) in front of a home crowd. And even though he believes that no other Olympics will ever come close to topping the experience of winning three Olympic medals in his own country, Fabris is already looking forward to the upcoming Olympics in Vancouver.

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Wednesday, 14 October 2009

Even though he was off to a slow start at the Fall World Cups last year due to some equipment changes, Denny Morrison can look back on a successful second half of the previous season. He finished fifth at the World Sprint Championships, accomplished his first 1500m World Cup victory ever, claimed both gold medals in the 1000m at the Sprint World Cup in Kolomna, and capped the season with two podium finishes at the World Single Distances Championships in Richmond. All in all, the season was an eye opener for Morrison, that enabled him to fine-tune his skating for the upcoming Olympic Games.

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Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Jamie Gregg looks back on a successful season. After several top 10 finishes at the World Cups, the national title in the 500m and a solid 13th place debut at the World Sprint Championships, he raced to an 8th place in the 500m at the World Single Distances Championships in Richmond. These performances have proven to him that he will have a decent chance of qualifying for his first Olympic Games, but he will not take anything for granted.

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Wednesday, 30 September 2009

After becoming a regular member of the Canadian Team Pursuit team, managing a good progression in the longer distances, and skating the 5000m at the World Single Distances Championships in Richmond, Jay Morrison can look back on a successful past season. And even though he may not have been completely happy with the way he skated some of his 1500m’s, Morrison is confidently looking forward to the upcoming season, during which he hopes to qualify for the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

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Tuesday, 22 September 2009

In terms of break-through seasons, Trevor Marsicano obviously looks back on one. After continuously showing progress throughout the season, he raced to some outstanding results at the World Cup Finals and the World Single Distances Championships last March, including the world title in the 1000m. Moreover, he was the first speed skater ever to finish this distance under 1:07, and in just that one race he brought down his personal best time from 1:09.16 to 1:06.88. After these impressive performances, Marsicano is now confidently looking forward to competing at his first Olympic Games, next February.

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Tuesday, 8 September 2009

Last season was a season of recovery for Jeremy Wotherspoon, world record holder in the 500m. At the first World Cup of the season he fell and broke his left arm in several places, and consequently he was forced to focus his attention on his rehabilitation, instead of being able to use the past season to fine-tune his skating for the upcoming Olympic Games. Eventually, Wotherspoon did not manage to return to international competition before the season ended, but he is doing well now in terms of his health and his overall fitness is back to being as good as ever.

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Thursday, 3 September 2009

After skating the American Olympic Trials on a broken ankle four years ago, and consequently just missing out on qualifying for the Torino Olympic Games, the upcoming Olympic Trials later this month will be of great importance for short track speed skater Jordan Malone. Looking back on several severe injuries over the last four years and even starting out the past season with a broken foot, Malone is hoping for an injury free season during which he will be able to prove himself on an Olympic stage.

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Thursday, 6 August 2009

After numerous podium finishes at the World Cups, and claiming the overall bronze medal and the 500m gold medal at the World Championships, Charles Hamelin can look back on a very successful season. In fact, based on his past season’s results, Hamelin pre-qualified for the Olympic Games in Vancouver as early as last March. Not burdened with the pressure of having to qualify at the Olympic Trials, Hamelin reflects on his past season and on the Olympic season to come.

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Monday, 15 December 2008

On December 12 and 13 the Richmond Olympic Oval officially opened its doors to the public. The Richmond Olympic Oval will host the long track speed skating events during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The first official competition, however, will be the Canadian Single Distances Championships (December 27-31). And March 12 - 15 the World Single Distances Championships will be the first international competition to take place in Richmond.

Amanda Smith, Richmond resident, went to the oval for Speedskating-online and took some pictures.

Click here for the photos.

Thursday, 23 October 2008

It was 1,522 days ago that Mayor Malcolm Brodie stood at a site on River Road and announced that Richmond would be a venue city for Vancouver 2010.

More than four years on from that day, the mayor was back on the same spot, this time to declare that the Richmond Olympic Oval will officially open to the public on Dec. 12 and 13.

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Sunday, 28 September 2008

We have some new photos! Click here for more photos of the interior and exterior of the Richmond Oval, taken by Nicole Garrido.

Nicole Garrido excited about new Richmond Oval

Sunday, 28 September 2008

Last week the Canadian long track speed skating team gathered in Richmond, BC to train on the 2010 Olympic ice for the very first time. Among them was Nicole Garrido, who is getting ready for her first season as a senior. Garrido looks back on a very promising junior career and currently holds four Canadian junior records. In her own words, Garrido looks back on her last season as a junior and gives an eye-witness account of her first laps on the new Olympic Oval.

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Photo credits: Arno Hoogveld

Canadian long track team trains at Richmond Oval

Thursday, 25 September 2008

Last week the Canadian long track speed skating team was in Richmond, BC for a training camp. The Richmond Oval has not been completely finished yet, but thanks to the hard work of all the people involved, the Canadian team was already able to get an idea of what the Olympic Oval will be like in 2010. Among them were Lucas Makowsky, Philippe Riopel and Brittany Schussler, who were all impressed with what they saw.

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Saturday, 23 August 2008

Curious what the Olympic Richmond Oval looks like at the moment? Speedskating-online was in Richmond and took some photos for you to see! Click here to check them out.

Monday, 25 February 2008

Norwegian speed skater Johann Olav Koss made his Olympic debut at the Albertville 1992 Olympic Winter Games, finishing seventh in the 5,000 metres, winning a gold medal in the 1,500 metres and silver in the 10,000 metres. At the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games, the final year of his speed skating career, Koss won three gold medals, winning all his races and setting new world records, two of which would remain unbeaten until the clap skate era. Koss was named Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year in 1994, together with American speed skater Bonnie Blair.

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(story originally posted on www.vancouver2010.com)

Saturday, 16 February 2008

Canadian short track speed skater François-Louis Tremblay of Alma, Quebec was the World Junior Champion in 1998. Now with many World Cup medals in his collection, Tremblay has become a valuable veteran of the Canadian national team for the last 10 years.

In Olympic competition, he won two silver medals at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games (500 metre and relay) and was also a member of the Canadian short track relay team that struck gold at the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games in 2002.

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(story originally posted on www.vancouver2010.com)

Wednesday, 16 January 2008

Marking another milestone on the road to the 2010 Winter Games, the last section of the unique “wood wave” roof of the Richmond Oval was put into place. Spanning 6.5 acres, the roof, primarily constructed of BC pine beetle kill wood, will become one of the most noticeable features of the Richmond Oval and an integral part of the Richmond skyline.

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(story originally posted on www.vancouver2010.com)

Thursday, 20 December 2007

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games daily competition schedule is available! Here's an overview of the long track and short track competition.