Canada's 2010 Olympic Gold Medal Hopefuls

While there are many Canadian gold medal hopefuls for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver BC this post will discuss those who have the best chance at attaining that elusive Olympic gold medal. Canada has won a country record 7 gold medals at each of the last two Winter Olympic Games in 2002 at Salt Lake City and 2006 in Turin, Italy.

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Team Canada: Women’s hockey

The Canadian women’s hockey team has easily been the most dominant team in international competition. In the three Olympics since women’s hockey was introduced they have captured 2 golds and 1 silver medal. They will most likely face the USA in the finals and it will surely be an exciting game.

Team Canada: Men’s hockey

The men’s Canadian hockey team is also the most dominant team internationally. Having won 7 Olympic gold medals and a number of other international tournaments they will be the favorites on home ice in 2010. That being said, Canada has one just one gold (2002 at Salt Lake City) since 1956 and finished 7th in Turin, Italy in 2006. It will certainly be no cakewalk but the team looks as stacked as ever and will be looking to make up for past failures.

Team Canada: Curling

The 2009 Canadian Curling Trials that will be held in Edmonton in early December to determine which teams will represent Canada in Vancouver. Since the introduction of curling in 1998, Canada has won a medal in every single event.

Patrick Chan: Figure Skating

Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario

The 18-year-old won the Four Continents Championships, took silver at the World Championships, and is ranked first in the world going in to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver BC.

Christine Nesbitt: Long Track Speed Skating

Hometown: London, Ontario

Christine won a silver and gold in the 1,500m and back-to-back gold medals in the 1000m at this years World Cup. She won silver in the team pursuit at Turin, Italy in 2006.

Charles Hamelin: Short Track Speed Skating

Hometown: Levis, Quebec

Charles has the opportunity to medal in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m individual distances. He has won 12 medals at the World Championships since 2005, silver at the 2006 Turin Games in the 5000m relay and in the first four World Cup events of the 2009-10 season Hamelin has won three gold medals.

Alexandre Bilodeau: Freestyle Skiing (moguls)

Hometown: Montreal, Quebec

Bilodeau won five World Cup events last year, a gold medal in the dual moguls at the World Championships and won first in the overall World Cup standings.

Kristina Groves: Long Track Speed Skating

Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario

Kristina Groves has the potential to win five medals in Vancouver to add to the two silver medals she captured in Turin, Italy in the 1500m and team pursuit.

Jenn Heil: Freestyle Skiing (moguls)

Hometown: Spruce Grove, Alberta

Jen won gold in Turin in the moguls, she has 42 World Cup medals and four podium finishes at the World Championships.

Steve Omischl: Freestyle Skiing (aerials)

Hometown: North Bay, Ontario

Steve has won an astounding 40 World Cup medals including 20 first place finishes but has never finished in the top 10 in his two Olympic Games appearances.

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There are plenty more Canadian Olympians with a legitimate chance at winning a gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC. Canada has a good chance to improve upon the 24 medals and 7 golds won in 2006 at Turin, both Olympic records for Canada. It will be an exciting time for this wonderful city, for Canada, and for the entire world.

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This post was written by Simon Vreeswijk of Stikky Media Social Media Marketing in Victoria BC.