Friday, February 15, 2002
Emotional day for Catriona
By ERIC FRANCIS -- Calgary Sun
KEARNS, Utah ~ Catriona Le May Doan's day started with flowers and ended with gold.
In between there were plenty of tears, hugs and prayers.
It was an emotional Valentine's Day for Canada's sweetheart speed skater, who wound up lifting a nation's spirits by claiming her country's first gold medal of these Games.
"Every five minutes it was like I was 12 again," Le May Doan, 31, said after defending her 500-metre Olympic title.
"It was an up-and-down day and I almost feel like I'm getting too old for the excitement and the nerves. But my coaches and (her husband, Bart) helped me believe in myself and keep me confident."
As the world champion, world-record holder and undefeated in the 500m this season, you'd think Le May Doan, a Saskatoon native who now lives in Calgary, would be armed with more confidence than Lennox Lewis.
However, through the course of the day, Bart Doan saw a surprisingly fragile, insecure side that reduced his wife to tears on several occasions.
"Olympic tears," said Bart, 35, who met his bride while working on the ice at Calgary's Olympic Oval and brought her flowers yesterday morning.
"She's always up and down (on race day) but this was really up and really down.
"She really is the best but she needs to be reminded she has nothing to worry about."
Entering the race just .04 ahead of German Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt in the two-race, combined-time final, Le May Doan said she felt pushed for the first time in years. It added to her first-day frustration and served to heighten fears she wouldn't be able to end her storybook career with the medal she says mattered most.
"It was such a long day," the devout Christian said. "I would be reading and then all of a sudden I would be in tears. But I drew on the strength of everybody around me.
"I prayed all day and knew someone else was in control. The last 50 metres, I just kept saying OEthank God, thank God.' "
Le May Doan's win came courtesy of a blistering start that fell just .01 off her best opening 100m.
After circling the rink in victory several times with a Canadian and Saskatchewan flag, Le May Doan got a warm embrace from Bart followed by several laps wearing his trademark black cowboy hat.
"I felt the most emotional during the last 10 metres," Le May Doan said. "I have so much support and so many people to share this with."
Le May Doan said after the race she couldn't wait to hear the national anthem played but her plans were put on hold last night.
Because of a news conference, doping tests and a traffic jam, she and Bart weren't able to make the 25-minute drive downtown from the Olympic Oval in time for the medal ceremony.
Organizers couldn't delay it because of the broadcast schedule, so when Le May Doan and her entourage arrived, singer Sheryl Crow was already onstage.
The medal presentation was rescheduled until tonight.
"She's fine with it," said speed skating media attache Natasha Larabie.
And there was a silver lining, too. Before leaving her post-race news conference, Le May Doan said she regretted the fact more of her family and speed skating friends would not be able to join her for the medal presentation.
Now they can.
2002 Games Long Track Speed Skating Coverage
