Bilodeau ends Canada's gold jinx
The newspapers on Sunday morning said it all: Monkey 1 Canada 0. The monkey was, at that stage in the Games, riding on the back of all Canadians and - hardest of all, it seemed - on those brave enough to step out onto ice or snow with the red maple leaf on their kit.
Two generations of Canadian athletes, in 1976 in Montreal and 1988 in Calgary, have felt it too. Both those teams had failed to win a single gold medal between them and, while no-one really expected it to go on for much longer, the pressure was building.
My job had seemed so easy - "just go out and witness it". Yeah, thanks, boss. So, with the delay in the men's downhill because of the snow up at Whistler, the first serious contender was Charles Hamelin in the men's 1,500m speed skating at the Pacific Colisseum.
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Matthew Pinsent follows Canada's pursuit of a first Winter Olympic gold medal as host nation (UK users only)
Hamelin reached the semi-finals, but then one Korean and one American bettered the local favourite. "Ohno!" roared half the stadium as the American out-thought Hamelin; the other half and I uttered, "Oh no...".
The pressure was then on another Canadian widely tipped for the gold - moguls skier Jennifer Heil.
Whether she knew the skating result or not we didn't know and, in any case, she had always maintained she loved the pressure. She had only one thing on her mind. Having won in Turin in 2006, she had to defend her gold.
But it was not to be and although she said she was happy to win the silver, I personally struggle to believe it.
Any champion sets their sights high and gold followed by silver is way, way worse than the other way around. The wait rolled over to another day, to what seemed, on paper, to be less promising.
So, off to the Richmond Oval for the long-track speed skating and the women's 3,000m event. Canada had three skaters competing and, although all three were genuine contenders, none were favourites to get gold. But the atmosphere in the venue was ecstatic.
The majority of the home fans were, I am sure, watching speed skating for the first time. The crowd were getting entertained by a Dutch band called Kleintje Pils, who were oompah-ing it to the max, and, for a while, it looked as if the orange army were going to be rewarded.
Diane Valkenburg set a time in the fourth match-up that kept her in pole position for a while, then American Nancy Swider Peltz took the lead with her run, which was just a 10th of a second faster. But then out came Marina Sablikova, lowering the time needed for gold by four seconds.
Despite the home support reverberating off the vaulted wooden roof of the Oval, Canadians Clara Hughes and Kristina Groves couldn't better it. The fans I spoke to were philosophical but the question remained: Who would be first?
Bilodeau and the home crowd went wild at Cypress Mountain. Photograph: AP
We piled back across town and up the hill to the moguls - more in hope than expectation, it has to be said.
The men's moguls field is so competitive and after two days of Canadian setbacks I was beginning to cast my eye down the list of sports to come in the calendar: Alpine events(delayed), figure skating... Canadians a way back from the medals and we were a long, long way from the nailed on women's ice hockey final.
But, of course, the faithful Canadians who trooped up to Cypress Mountain were, like us, rewarded. It was great to see a dominant Canadian trio perform despite the pressure rather than under it.
After his moment of victory Alexandre Bilodeau stopped to talk to any who had a question - unlike many of his fellow competitors - and was genuinely proud to be the one to make history.
On the way back down the mountain there is a view from which you can see right across the city. Vancouver will be sleeping that little bit better tonight. The spell is broken.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~43~RS~)
In a previous life I won four gold medals at the Olympics between 1992 and 2004 and I now work at the BBC. Whilst I was part of the Beijing team for the BBC in the summer of 2008, my primary role is as reporter for 
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Marvelous, brilliant, amazing......and I'm only an honorary Canadian. We knew it was coming but we didn't know when. I caught Bilodeau's golden run more by accident, waiting for a seat at the Cactus Club downtown Vancouver. The whole restaurant went wild. Free shots were passed around to those sat at the oval bar (no seat...no free shot), and the atmosphere transformed into one of releived celebration. It must also be said that it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy and we are all massively proud. Tickets for the Victory Ceremony Monday evening at BC Place have suddenly become much more valuable.
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Matthew,
I agree that the tension of will we and who will win the first Gold, should now evaporate and the athletes and supporters can now really relax and enjoy the games. As a participant in a number of summer Olympics, how in your opinion, does Vancouver compare both as a venue and with respect to the organisation that is in place to support the event? As a Brit who has lived in Vancouver for the past 9 years and is proud to call this great City home. We have committed huge tax payer dollars to support this event. I hope as visitors you get to see just how lovely this City is.
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Very pleased for Canada, winning their first olympic gold on home soil. The waited for it and worked for it and it came in a blaze of glory. Now, it gets very exciting to see what happens next for the Canadians. I just hope that Team GB pulls something miraculouly out of the bag soon.
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nice to see that as a license payer that i can afford to pay the bbc commentary team in Kjus skiwear
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Three home Olympics to get one gold... man that is a monkey.
At least in London we don't have that to worry about that, more some lofty aim of winning loads and loads of golds and finishing 4th in the medal table.
Winning one gold in 2012 will just be seen as a minor milestone. Pressure is on the whole team.
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I thought I heard yesterday that fertiliser had been put on the biathlon course to harden it up. Does anyone know the science behind this? Have asked a fewing farming friends who don't have a clue!!!
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Congratulations to the Canadian Winter Olympic team for gaining their first Gold on home soil (let's hope they get some more snow!). However, after hearing the news, I hastened to ascertain which particular discipline had achieved the feat........Moguls????????? This, I had to see.....Moguls?????? What, or who, are Moguls, I wondered?
Then I saw. Oh dear! I'm sorry, but I have to group Moguls, with Snowboarding and BMX bikes..........circus acts, not proper sports. I know! I'm nothing more than a stick-in-the-mud traditionalist, but I make no apologies. I truly wish Canada the best of luck, and I hope they will win at least one real Gold Medal.
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Whilst I do agree with your commentator Tom Thomson I feel that he doesn't go far enough! Moguls indeed!
A huge pity that good public money is spent on inventing hitherto unheard of events when that money could be better spent on help for the homeless or other needy and desperate causes.
Of course Canada isn't alone in this; we English can be just as ridiculous, the
Millennium Dome springs to mind. What a total waste.
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what a fabulous moment for Alexandre and Canadian Olympic history!
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Good point Robin44 in a time of tightening your pursestrings the bbc comentators are wear £600 jackets.
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This is huge for Canada. Moved from Dover to the great white north in 81. As passionate about Canada as I am about England. Well done my son.
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I was astonished that Canada hadn't won gold at home before. They're 8th on the all time list of gold medal winning countries at the Winter Games - how did they fail to win at Calgary?
I was so astonished that I actually went to put in five minutes of wikipedia research. At Calgary, the Canadians came FOURTH in ice hockey. Good lord. How? Why? Course, that was in the mens, since women's hockey wasnt at the Olympics till 1998 for some bizarre reason.
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To del and Tom Thomson.
What exactly makes moguls more ridiculous than any other sport? Just because you have not heard of it in your ignorant corner of the world does not mean it is a silly sport or one that we invented out of nothing. It is actually a very popular sport in many countries, hence its inclusion in the Olympics.
Also, saying that the money spent on the moguls could be better spent helping the poor is a ridiculous statement. The point of sport is to provide enjoyment to people, and this sport does just that. Perhaps you should take the money that you spend on some leisurely pursuit and donate it to the poor instead.
Finally, do not belittle the accomplishments of these athletes who have trained and sacrificed for years for this moment. You certainly could not do what they do you pompous buffoons.
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I'd suggest that the Soviet Union (still going strong in 1988) was probably the reason Canada didn't win the Ice Hockey in 1988. In addition, the professional players weren't part of the Olympic tournament back then, so the 'best' players who were plying their trade in the professional leagues weren't eligible to compete. I think the 'dream team' concept was introduced only in the 90s, starting with basket ball in the Summer Games.
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del..... I am sick of people like you bring up the myth that if the poor were given more financial support they would be better off. If they weren't supported by our tax deducted from actually going out and working to make ends meet, maybe they would have to do the same...get off their behinds and contribute to society.
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Hi all, just in response to Tony (comment two), Matt has already given his thoughts on how Vancouver compares to previous Olympics he himself competed in here in this blog http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/matthewpinsent/2010/02/hanging_out_with_the_village_p.html and he also gave a general overview of Vancouver (including a beautifully shot piece of video) here http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/matthewpinsent/2010/02/smitten_with_charming_vancouve.html.
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It is unfortunate that we have spent more on a facility than we have on creating world class athletes,Canadian athletes for the most part are underfunded so when we do well internationally it is quite an accomplishment, This does not take away from there accomplishments and as a Canadian I am proud of our athletes and there efforts to bring us recognition and honor on the world stage. GO CANADA GO
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I also agree with tom thompson, traditional is best,though having watched 4 snowboarders hurtle down together where anything can happen is awesome.Any predictions for the mens hockey? GO CANADA !!!!
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Bilodeau's story is beautiful and inspiring. It was very touching for him to dedicate his victory to his disabled brother. US network NBC presented a short overview of Bilodeau and the love that he has for his disabled brother is amazing. Bilodeau is a true role model for the youth of the world. Best wishes from an American fan.
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Put simply, the Olympic Games are nothing but a colossal waste of money. From the smug, self-satisfied politicians enjoying tickets at the expense of the tax payer to the freeloading 'dignitaries' who are attending in their masses, this is nothing but a gathering for the well heeled or well connected. Rather than addressing the social issues which could have been much improved with the billions spent, we are merely witnessing a party for the elite and an almost jingoistic show from the home nation. Sloppy weather conditions and the attendant problems they create almost seem like a little justice; to those of us who care more about the homeless and poor of a nation in recession and not a jot for this bourgeois shindig, such black eyes for the event are most welcome. Such a flagrant abuse of power and abhorrent profligacy with public funds should not be touted as some kind of shared celebration; rather, this event should be recognized as the anachronistic nonsense that it is and politicians should be ashamed, not applauded for such fiscal irresponsibility.
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Tom Thompson - trust you will be watching the half-pipe competition on wednesday (that is a snowboarding event just in case you were not sure ) ? Should be good
Another gold for Canada today in Snowboarding Cross :) .....shame that Zoe Gillings from the GB team was not able to make the final
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Maxine Thrasher to answer your question: "I thought I heard yesterday that fertiliser had been put on the biathlon course to harden it up. Does anyone know the science behind this? Have asked a fewing farming friends who don't have a clue!!!" It is used to raise the freezing temp of water to make man made snow when sprayed from the snow machine.Its like Viagra for snow. When sprayed directly to snow it melts it, which hardens up at night when it gets colder. Bacteria is also added in some cases to change snow crystal shape, makes it like corn starch. The Inuit have 17 different names for "snow"....We Know our snow!!!! Simply put We stay away from Yellow snow. Here is a link that explains our weather here in Vancouver "El Nino" { http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Ni%C3%B1o-Southern_Oscillation } Our slang is "the Pineapple Express" = warm air flow from Hawaii. The Provice of B.C. is big! you can fit England in it...Its the only place in the world where you can ski, bicycle & Kayak (Sea to Sky Race) in one day. Oh! the bears are coming out early this year because of the warm weather, they will be grumpy for sure. We have to keep them on a low fat diet, so no feeding BBC reporters to them!!
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Its a good feeling to see our Canadian athletes win gold on home turf. But it is better to watch the reaction from their families, who know how much their son or daughter put in to getting there. We celebrate both, the win of the athlete and of the supporting parents.There is rumour that there will be a special gold medal to the most athletic spirit, presented by Terry Fox's Mother. I hope this is true. That will be the one to be elected for. Terry's Mom was on the front right of the olympic flag as it was walked into B.C.Place. Google (Terry Fox ) to know what athletic spirit or pasion is all about. Medals are not for the moment of the individual but for the journey of them and their family.
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http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/videos/?ID=1414405722 It is better to watch the reaction from their families, who know how much their son or daughter put in to getting there. We celebrate both, the win of the athlete and of the supporting parents.
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In case you missed the huge crash in the Super G today, see it at; http://www.lionsdenu.com/vancouver-2010-olympics-update-patrik-jaerbyn-wild-crash-in-skiing/
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