After two weeks of disappointment for the Canadian men’s short track team, Friday night at the Pacific Coliseum would have the men’s 5000m relay team take home the gold in a record setting performance.
With the win, Canada achieved the highest number of gold medals at the Winter Olympics, claiming ten, tied for the most at any Olympics for Canada since they won ten in 1984 in Los Angeles.
Strategy would be the key to the Canadian’s success, as in the early going they seemed content drafting behind the leader China. They would look to push the pace and take the lead with 20 laps remaining.
At no point down the stretch did Canada lose its lead, positioning itself well on transactions to hold off the strong contingent from Korea.
Canada won with a time of 6:44.224, finishing ahead of silver medalist and favourites Korea, who had a time of 6:44.446. The U.S. came from behind to displace China and narrowly lose to Korea to take home the bronze with a time of 6:44.498.
The night began with Charles Hamelin and Francois-Louis Tremblay finally ending the podium drought the men’s short track team has been experiencing since competition began. They would win gold and bronze respectively in the men’s 500m event.
For American short track star Apolo Anton Ohno, this event could mark his last in Olympic competition. The 27-yearold will go down as one of the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympians of all-time, having won eight medals in Olympic competition, three coming at these Games.