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Canadian Olympic Speed Skating Team Chosen

Canada's dreams of Olympic domination will likely rest on the legs of the 16 speedskaters announced to represent the nation at the 2010 Winter Games.

Officials from Speed Skating Canada unveiled their official roster on Monday at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. There were few surprises on the team of talented and experienced skaters, who are expected to fair well in Vancouver next month.

Long-track speedskaters brought home eight of Canada's 24 medals from the 2006 Winter Olympics. It's a safe bet that if Canada is going to top 30 medals in Vancouver, at least 10 of those will come from speedskating.

Christine Nesbitt, of London, Ont., will face heavy expectations as she leads the Canada's fastest skaters to Vancouver. Nesbitt, 24, was unbeaten in the 1,000 metres on the World Cup circuit in 2009 (and, for good measure, she won the 1,500 twice).

In early December Nesbitt joined up with Kristina Groves of Ottawa, and Britanny Schussler of Winnipeg to set a world record in the women's pursuit, with a time of 2:55.79. As expected, both Groves and Schussler were named to the Olympic team.

Winnipeg's Cindy Klassen will also return to the Olympics, following her unforgettable five-medal performance in Turin, where she won the gold medal in the 1,500 metres. With Nesbitt and Groves also skating in this event, it's a good bet that two medals will come out of the women's 1,500 in Vancouver.

Shannon Rempel, of Winnipeg will make her second Olympic appearance, competing in the 500 and 1,000. Calgary's Anastasia Bucsis, 20, and Tamara Oudenaarden, 22, of St. Albert, Alta., will bring youth to the team in the 500.

On the men's side, Denny Morrison will shoulder most of the weight as Canada's top male skater for four consecutive years. Morrison, 24, helped bring home the silver in team pursuit during the Turin Olympics but was shut out in both the 1,000 and 1,500. The Fort St. John, B.C., native is currently fourth in World Cup standing for the 1,500 but won the event at the world championships in 2008.

Rookies Lucas Makowsky, of Regina, and Mathieu Giroux, of Montreal, will compete in the long distance events, and join Morrison in the Team Pursuit.

Veteran Jeremy Wotherspoon will make his fourth and final run at the Olympic podium, skating in the 500 and 1,000.


Jan 14, 2010

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