Friday, February 15, 2002
Golden redemption
Le May Doan's performance has Canada smiling again
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- SLAM! Sports
KEARNS, Utah - Just about every woman would like a little gold on Valentine's
Day.
How about a whole country?
Saskatoon's Catriona Le May Doan skated with her lion's heart and claimed
Canada's first gold medal of these frustrating, disappointing and sometimes
infuriating Winter Games for Canada Thursday.
Le May Doan bolted around the Olympic Oval in 37.45 seconds to win her
second-straight Olympic gold in the 500m, bringing her Olympic medal haul to
three (she also won a bronze in the 1000m in Nagano four years ago).
Her combined time for the two legs of 74.75 edged out a pair of German
skaters. Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt, racing against Le May Doan in the final
pair, stopped the clock in 37.60 for a total of 74.94. Sabine Voelker clocked
75.19 for the bronze.
With Canada still reeling and seething over pairs figure skaters Jamie Sale
and David Pelletier being denied a gold medal Monday night - the outrage over
allegations of the judging being fixed is world-wide - and the frustration of
seeing speedskating favourite Jeremy Wotherspoon falling flat on his face in
his race - Le May Doan's win is finally some good news for Canada.
Le May Doan, who has bettered her world record in the 500m eight times since
1997, was as close to a lock for a gold medal that Canada had at these Games.
She delivered.
"This medal should re-encourage everybody," she said. "We have so many great
speed skating events coming up and other events. The Games aren't half over.
We're just beginning a great competition.
"I can't say we're cursed. It's been an unfortunate five days what with what
happened in the figure skating and Jeremy falling. We're a classy team. Jamie
and David gave a great interview. There are great competitors. None of them
are at fault. Anything can happen."
The 31-year-old stretched her winning streak this year to nine as she blazed
out over the first 100m in 10.22, tying her second-fastest time ever.
On her victory lap, she took a Canadian flag from the crowd and had it
flowing behind her down the backstretch where she stopped for a hug from her
husband, Bart Doan. She later gathered up a flag from her native
Saskatchewan, as well.
She flashed her huge smile and waved to the crowd as she made her way around
the oval.
It's a scene about which she had dreamt.
"You imagine it," she said, "sometimes too much. You get ahead of yourself.
It's been an up-and-down 24 hours. It wasn't how I wanted. It was like I was
12 again. The whole team around me had to assure me every five minutes and
tell me how to skate again."
Le May Doan, the "boss" of the 500m as Garbrecht-Enfeldt put it, was under
enormous pressure here. She didn't skate her best Wednesday, but still held a
narrow lead over Garbrecht-Enfeldt going into the second race Thursday.
"I didn't feel the pressure of the country," she said. "I know people were
hoping and praying for me. I don't feel the pressure of other people. If
things hadn't worked out, they would have been disappointed for me, not at me.
"As you saw (Wednesday), this is the Olympics. Everybody has their best race,
but for some reason, I don't. I got hard on myself and mad at myself. I got
over the frustration by praying about it and digging deep."
So now Le May Doan has finally got Canada in the win column. After days of
frustration, there is something to celebrate.
"No matter if we had been through what we've been through for the last few
days or not, you're first goal medal is important. It's a boost," said
Canadian Olympic Association president Mike Chambers, getting a break from
the figure skating mess to witness Le May Doan skate. "We got it from
Catriona. She was our flag bearer (at the Opening Ceremonies) and she's
leading the way. She's leading us in flags and gold medals."
Four-time Canadian Olympic medalist in speedskating Gaetan Boucher said Le
May Doan's performance is elevating her to legendary status in the sport.
"There have been a lot of good women speedskaters, but I guess winning the
500m for two years and in two straight Olympic Games is a difference," he
said.
"I think it puts her just below (American) Bonnie Blair. She's got five gold.
You can't compare."
Among her personal highlights, Le May Doan lists the '98 Olympic Games and
dropping the puck at a National Hockey League game between the Toronto Maple
Leafs and the New York Rangers, led then by Wayne Gretzky.
She might have to update that list now.
Gretzky, now here as the executive director of the men's hockey team, leaned
over and gave her a kiss on the cheek that night.
Last night, that's probably what a whole nation felt like doing.
2002 Games Long Track Speed Skating Coverage
