Music: {allcanada} CANADA'S DESCHAMPS WINS BRONZE IN SKELETON

Friday, February 4, 2011

{allcanada} CANADA'S DESCHAMPS WINS BRONZE IN SKELETON

World Cup rookie Darla Deschamps took her turn on the dominant Canadian skeleton team to hop onto the podium.

Calgary's Deschamps won the first medal of her career after finishing third in the final World Cup race of the season on Friday in Cesana, Italy.

"It was a great day and I felt really good. I have been super pumped just to have theopportunity to get a chance to race on the World Cup," said Deschamps, who had two solid runs down the highly technical Italian track which through everything the top skeleton athletes in the world could handle. "I came into the World Cup with the goal of just racing well so I was surprised a bit with the bronze today. I always want two good runs, and to do it on race day is pretty awesome."

Deschamps joined two German athletes on the podium. Anja Huber slid to the gold medal while Marion Thees locked up the silver medal.

"Our team dynamics have been awesome which has been really helpful for everyone to perform well," said Deschamps. "The whole season has just been really good and I've really felt good."

Deschamps credits her experienced medal-winning teammates, including fiancée and Olympic gold medallist Jon Montgomery, for helping to propel her onto the podium soearly in her career.

"It has definitely been an inspiration to experience last year at the Olympics, but to have Jon on one side of me and then look to my right and Mellisa (Hollingsworth) is there is pretty amazing. Our team has such great depth and it really has inspired me to put the hard work in," said Deschamps.

"Our team is so strong. On any given day the top-six Canadian women can be on the World Cup so you cannot relax. The pressure is always there to perform, and be our best."

All three Canadian women slid into the top-10 for the second straight week. Amy Gough, of Abbotsford, B.C., was sixth, while Mellisa Hollingsworth, of Eckville, Alta., dropped back to ninth spot.

Toronto's Mike Douglas also fought his way into the top-10 to lead the Canadian men with a seventh-place finish. Jon Montgomery, of Russell, Man., finished 11th, while Calgary's Jon Fairbairn was 12th.