Sport Shorts: Double Gold for Brian McKeever
Double Gold: Canada’s Brian McKeever (Canmore, Alta.) battled through challenging conditions to win back-to-back events in the men’s visually impaired distance race at the Paralympic Cross-Country Skiing World Championships in Russia. The star athlete powered through the five centimetres of new snow and challenging winds to win gold medals in both the men’s 20-kilometre classic-ski race medal in the men’s 10-kilometre race. In 2010, McKeever made history as a dual member of both the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Teams.
Vying for the Worlds: It’s been a busy few days for Canadian swimmers who are racing for a chance to compete at the World Championships later this summer in Shanghai. There have been many standouts at the meet in Victoria. Katerine Savard (Quebec City) broke the Canadian record in the women’s 100-metre butterfly on Friday. Julia Wilkinson (Stratford, Ont.) captured three individual gold medals at the meet. For full results, visit www.swimming.ca
Judokas Collect Hardware: Canada added five medals to its haul on Saturday at the Pan American Judo Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico (home of this year’s Pan American Games). Youssef Youssef of Ontario was the top Canadian earning silver in men’s 55 kilos. On Friday, Quebec’s Alexandre Émond highlighted an impressive Canadian medal haul, earning silver. Canada also won three bronze.
Curling Worlds: Saskatchewan curling fans are getting a dose of big-time action right now at the World Curling Championships. Representing Canada is Jeff Stoughton and his Winnipeg-based team of Jon Mead, Reid Carruthers and Steve Gould.
Ski Cross Champs: A world champion is Canadian champion in the sport of ski cross, as Chris Del Bosco (Vail, Col.) took home gold at the national championships Saturday in Lake Louise, Alta. Meanwhile, on the women’s side, 18-year-old Marielle Thompson (Whistler) made a huge splash in edging world champion Kelsey Serwa (Kelowna, B.C.) at the finish line. The future is bright.
Awarding Excellence: Olympic Swimming silver medallist Ralph Hutton (Ocean Falls, B.C.) was recognized as a new inductee to Swimming Canada’s Circle of Excellence on Friday. Hutton was the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal in 48 years when he won silver in the 400-metre freestyle at the Mexico City Games.
