Charles Hamelin entered the record book as the Canadian men’s short-track speedskating 5,000-metre relay team won a gold medal on Wednesday at the Beijing Olympics.
Hamelin, Steven Dubois, Pascal Dion, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and reserve Maxime Laoun (who raced in the semifinals) teamed up to win Canada’s 18th medal at the Games. It is Canada’s third gold.
South Korea was second and Italy was third.
In what was Hamelin’s final Winter Games race, the 37-year-old from Sainte-Julie, Que., tied long-track speedskater Cindy Klassen’s Canadian Winter Olympic record with his sixth career medal — including four gold.
“I just think if you love what you do and if you put the work in, anything is possible. I think I’m proof that if you do it and you love it, you can do anything,” Hamelin told reporters. “Finishing with these guys on the podium with the gold medal is a big statement for everyone. Believe in your dreams and go for it.”
Hamelin also tied hockey players Hayley Wickenheiser, Caroline Ouellette and Jayna Hefford for most gold medals won by a Canadian Olympian.
Hamelin also tied the record for most medals by any Canadian male Olympian — sprinter Andre De Grasse also has six. Swimmer Penny Oleksiak is the all-time Canadian leader with seven medals.
“Doing it with those boys, we worked really hard for the last four years to be here, to be in that (A) final,” Hamelin told CBC. ” And now being on top of the podium is the cherry on the top … to be with those guys who are like brothers for me. It’s the best feeling ever.”
Hamelin and hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin were Canada’s flag-bearers at the Opening Ceremony. Poulin goes for gold against the United States on Wednesday at 11:10 p.m. ET.
It also was Dubois’ third medal in Beijing — he won silver in the 1,500 metres and bronze in the 500. He matches long-track speedskater Isabelle Weidemann (also gold, silver, bronze) with a Canadian-best three Beijing medals.
Canada won bronze in this event four years ago in Pyeongchang.
Sitting third for the majority of the first half of Wednesday’s race, Pierre-Gilles pushed Canada ahead of the Russians for second with just over 20 laps to go.
A few laps later, Dion put Canada in first for good as he pulled ahead of the Koreans.
“When we passed them, we just hit the gas and said to them ‘catch us if you can’ and they didn’t,” Hamelin told CBC.
Canada gained a bigger lead with 12 laps left on a great exchange from Dion to Hamelin.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Courtney Sarault and Kim Boutin were eliminated from medal contention in the semifinals of the women’s 1,500 metres. Sarault missed out on earning the last final spot in a photo finish.
Canada’s Danae Blais was ousted in the quarterfinals.
Charles in Charge: Hamelin ties record as Canada wins Olympic relay gold
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
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