Music: {allcanada} CANADA WINS FOUR GOLDS AT SHORT-TRACK WORLD CUP

Sunday, October 31, 2010

{allcanada} CANADA WINS FOUR GOLDS AT SHORT-TRACK WORLD CUP

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QUEBEC -- Canada dominated the final day at the Korean Air ISU Short-Track World Cup on Sunday with seven medals including four golds.

Marianne St. Gelais of St. Felicien, Que., and Francois-Louis Tremblay of Boucherville, Que., won the women's and men's 500-metre races, while Charles Hamelin of Ste-Julie, Que., won gold in the men's 1,000.

The men's relay team added the last gold of the day, while the women's relay team captured silver.

Guillaume Bastille of Riviere-du-Loup, Que., and Francois Hamelin of Ste-Julie, added one bronze each in the men's 1,000 and 500, respectively.

St-Gelais was the first to the podium, winning the women's 500 in 43.740 seconds ahead of Italy's Arianna Fontana (44.099) and China's Fan Kexin (44.225).

"I was very tired, knew I had to start fast if I wanted to have a chance to win, and it worked," said St-Gelais. "Near the end of the race, I looked up to the screen and saw they were close behind me, but I told myself to remain focused and keep my speed."

In the men's 500, Francois Hamelin started out first but settled for bronze in 41.921 after being passed by winner Tremblay (41.738) and China's Liang Wenhao (41.756).

"It feels great to be back on the podium, it puts a good end to the weekend for me," said Tremblay. "I'm happy to come back so strong after my counter performance yesterday. I was listening behind, and I knew the Chinese would eventually try to pass, but I didn't want to make a move too fast, I was patient and it paid off."

In the men's 1,000, Charles Hamelin took the lead from the start and held on for the gold in 1:26.226. American Travis Jayner won silver in 1:26.310, while Bastille took bronze in 1:26.479.

"The 1,000 metre is my favourite distance, so it's great to win it," said Charles Hamelin. "It went really well in the final, and to be able to step on the podium here, in Quebec, with another Canadian athlete, it's really amazing."

In the men's relay final, Canada came out on top against China to win gold in 6:51.806. The Chinese fell with two laps to go, and had to settle for fourth place, which gave the silver medal to the Americans (6:53.661) and bronze to the Italians (6:54.133).

In the women's relay, Canada won silver in 4:13.594 before China (4:13.008). The U.S. took bronze in 4:14.380.