Monday, January 7, 2002
Langlois, Archetto hoping they have Game
By ROB BRODIE -- Ottawa Sun
Eleven months ago, Anabelle Langlois and Patrice Archetto got their first taste of the Olympic experience.
Like a lot of things in the past year, it happened a little sooner than planned.
Ask around at Copps Coliseum this week, and you'll find a lot of folks pencilling in Langlois, 20, of Hull, and Archetto, 29, of Montreal, for one of Canada's three available Olympic pairs berths at next month's Salt Lake City Games.
They were that impressive in winning a bronze medal at Skate Canada in Saskatoon in November. And with Kris and Kristy Wirtz retired, all eyes will be on this fourth-year team when the battle for the Olympic team heats up beginning Thursday night.
World champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier are a lock for gold at Canadians, but after that, it should be quite the competition.
The diminutive Langlois, who stands a shade under five feet tall, finds it all quite amazing.
"We always thought that 2002 was too close (to make the Olympic team)," she said. "We didn't really think about it until last year when we came third at Canadians (in Winnipeg).
"It was kind of an awakening, like 'hello, we're part of the game, too.' "
That third-place finish qualified Langlois and Archetto for the Four Continents Championship last February, which happened to be held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City -- the venue for the Olympic competition.
They finished sixth but, more importantly, felt inspired by the setting.
"It was like a rehearsal for the Olympics," said Langlois. "If we get to go to the Olympics, we know how it's going to happen."
Outside of one small glitch in December -- they had to withdraw from the NHK Trophy in Japan because of illness -- everything is on track for them to skate in an even bigger show in Utah.
Hoping to join them are Valerie Marcoux, 21, of Gatineau, and partner Bruno Marcotte, 27, of Beloeil, Que., who placed fourth a year ago in Winnipeg.
They'll duel with Langlois and Archetto, former national teamers Valerie Saurette and Jean-Sebastien Fecteau, and Jacinthe Lariviere and Lenny Faustino for those precious tickets to Salt Lake.
2002 Games Figure Skating Coverage
