Today's Gold #3

[Jack Bennest]

Christine Nesbitt - Speed Skating



Christine at left

Canadian speed skater Christine Nesbitt struck gold at the Olympic Oval Thursday.

A favourite heading into the women's 1,000-metre speed skating event, Nesbitt of London, Ont. didn't disappoint in taking the top of the podium. She finished in 1:16.56 seconds, winning by 2/100ths of a second over Annette Gerritsen of The Netherlands. She also won a silver at the 2006 Turin Games in the team pursuit.

Kristina Groves, from Ottawa, was also a medal threat but finished fourth. Groves struck silver twice in 2006 — both in the team pursuit and the 1,500. She's already taking a bronze from Vancouver, having finished third in the 3,000 on Sunday.

Nesbitt's win gives Canada three golds at the Vancouver Games and a total of seven medals.

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/vancouver2010/news/2010/02/18/12935311-qmi.html

[Jack Bennest]

5 4 6 15 USA
4 4 3 11 Germany
3 3 2 8 Norway
3 3 1 7 Canada
2 1 4 7 France

[J Kendrick]

I'm waiting to see how much Canada's ranking in 2010 will vary from its place in the standings at Vancouver's British Empire and Commonwealth games in 1954. It won't be all that much different, I suspect, than it was 56 years ago when Canada had finished fourth... exactly the same position that Canada has held in the 2010 standings for the past four days.

1954 Empire Games final standings:

23 24 20 England
20 11 17 Australia
16 6 13 South Africa
9 20 14 Canada

[Jack Bennest]

Those were summer games with only the commonwealth countries - not much of a comparison
really - and it was occurring when you were a glint in your father's eye.

[J Kendrick]

Those were summer games - and it was occurring when you were a glint in your father's eye.

... a glint that was already up and walking around, I'll have you know.