Canada Gets First Medal at Milan Cortina Olympics

Canada has won its first medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Valérie Maltais earned a bronze medal in speed skating. The Canadian women's hockey team also started strong with a win against Switzerland.
By Newsroom | Sports, Olympics |

The second day of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics saw Canadian athletes competing across several disciplines, with notable performances in women's hockey and speed skating, while other teams faced challenges. The focus for Canada was on securing early medals and advancing in preliminary rounds.

Here's the latest on Day 2 of the Milan Cortina Olympics as Canadians chase medals - 1

The Milan Cortina Winter Games officially commenced with the lighting of Olympic cauldrons in both Milan and Cortina, Italy. Competition, however, had already begun prior to the opening ceremonies, particularly in women's hockey and mixed doubles curling.

Here's the latest on Day 2 of the Milan Cortina Olympics as Canadians chase medals - 2

Canadian Team's Competitive Landscape

Canada's participation in the Milan Cortina Olympics is marked by a blend of established team strengths and emerging individual successes.

Here's the latest on Day 2 of the Milan Cortina Olympics as Canadians chase medals - 3

  • Women's Hockey: The Canadian women's hockey team initiated their tournament with a victory against Switzerland. Daryl Watts scored Canada's first even-strength goal in the game. Canada's initial match against Finland was postponed due to a norovirus outbreak affecting the Finnish team.

  • Speed Skating: Valérie Maltais secured Canada's first medal of the Games, a bronze in the 3,000-meter final. This marks Maltais's fifth Olympic appearance.

  • Curling: Canada's mixed doubles curling team experienced setbacks, dropping a match to Great Britain. Team GB's Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds maintained a perfect record, securing a semi-final place after defeating Canada and the USA.

  • Injuries: The Canadian team has seen some athletes affected by injuries, including Sam Bennett replacing Anthony Cirelli on the men's hockey team and Mark McMorris being the fourth athlete to sustain an injury.

Key Event Summaries and Results

The early days of the Milan Cortina Olympics have highlighted performances across various sports.

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Here's the latest on Day 2 of the Milan Cortina Olympics as Canadians chase medals - 4

  • Women's Hockey: Canada defeated Switzerland 4-0. In other matches, the U.S. women's hockey team secured a 5-0 win against Finland. Switzerland had previously won a shootout against Czechia.

  • Speed Skating: Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida set a new Olympic record in the women's 3,000-meter race, winning gold.

  • Skiing: Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen claimed the first gold medal of the Games in the men's downhill event. Sweden achieved a one-two finish in the women's skiathlon, with Frida Karlsson taking gold.

  • Figure Skating: The team event saw Team USA holding a leading position ahead of the final stages.

Operational Aspects of the Games

The Milan Cortina Games feature a unique approach to the opening ceremony and event scheduling.

  • Dual Cauldron Lighting: The Olympic cauldrons were lit in two distinct locations, Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, a first in Olympic and Paralympic history.

  • Early Competition: Several events, including mixed doubles curling and women's hockey, commenced prior to the official opening ceremonies.

  • Broadcasting: CBC is identified as Canada's official Olympic broadcaster.

Challenges and Pre-Games Considerations

Concerns regarding athlete readiness and event logistics were present leading into and during the initial days of the Games.

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  • Athlete Injuries: The Canadian team has had to adapt due to injuries to key players, impacting team composition and strategy.

  • Venue Readiness: There have been mentions of past Olympic experiences where venue readiness posed challenges.

  • Norovirus Outbreak: A norovirus outbreak within the Finnish team led to the postponement of their women's hockey match against Canada.

Expert Commentary

Insights from individuals involved with the Canadian Olympic Committee and sports analysts provide context for Canada's medal prospects and the broader competitive landscape.

"The country’s large medal hauls in winter sport shouldn’t be taken for granted." - Canadian Olympic Committee's Chief Executive Officer (as reported by ckom.com)

Conclusion and Future Outlook

Canada has established a medal presence with Valérie Maltais's bronze in speed skating and begun their women's hockey campaign with a win. The mixed doubles curling team faces an uphill battle, while other teams are preparing for upcoming competitions. The impact of pre-Games injuries and external factors like the norovirus outbreak will continue to be observed as the Games progress. Upcoming matches for the Canadian women's hockey team include a game against Czechia.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was Canada's first medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics?
Canada's first medal was a bronze in speed skating won by Valérie Maltais.
Q: Did the Canadian women's hockey team win their first game?
Yes, the Canadian women's hockey team won their first game against Switzerland.
Q: What happened to the Finnish women's hockey team?
Their game against Canada was postponed because some players had a stomach sickness called norovirus.
Q: Were there any other notable results for Canada?
Canada's mixed doubles curling team lost a match to Great Britain.