The French sweep the podium while Canada’s Brady Leman finishes fourth
Andy Wong/AP
What does ski cross look like? It’s filled with big air and big spills. One quarter-finals heat this morning included a photo finish between three athletes who all crashed before the finish line.
First quarter-final might as well have been called Ski Crash. Fantastic carnage. #bbcsochi #SkiCross pic.twitter.com/5DNd21ByFi
— Dan Webster (@danwebster37) February 20, 2014
This is what a foto-finish looks like in skicross #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/9lp73hEcd5
— Svenja Mastroberardi (@svenja_mastro) February 20, 2014
The Russian who stuck out his arms managed to cross in second place and qualify for the next round.
C’est de l’art #skicross #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/O6ACIWyZ69 — MaliaMetella (@MaliaMetella) February 20, 2014
Amid the chaos and crashes, Canada’s Brady Leman won three races en route to the final foursome.
.@Lemanracing in Heat 2 of the semifinals. Heat 1 underway, Leman up next. #WeAreWinter pic.twitter.com/TrUd3eNLr1 — CDN Olympic Team (@CDNOlympicTeam) February 20, 2014
And in that finals he would be in a battle for the podium against three competitors all from France.
Jean-Frédéric Chapuis, Arnaud Bovolenta, et Jonathan Midol devant Brady Leman #Sochi2014 #SkiCross Finale pic.twitter.com/1lmsxkd556 — Objectif Demain (@pilepole) February 20, 2014
Brady Leman into the final but in tough against 3 French. #Sochi2014 Hopefully no funny business.. — Don Merry (@ShawniganCanuck) February 20, 2014
After falling behind the lead early, Leman pressed hard trying to get himself into a medal position, but crashed late in the race.
Tough go for Leman, finishes fourth. Second straight Olympics #TeamCanada goes 4th in men’s ski cross. #WeAreWinter pic.twitter.com/SqrJmPbIDv — CDN Olympic Team (@CDNOlympicTeam) February 20, 2014
Bummed for Brady @Lemanracing. Got boxed out by the 3 Frenchman and crashed. Ends up 4th. Congrats to FRA pour le sweep. @CDNOlympicTeam — Adam van Koeverden (@vankayak) February 20, 2014
LIVE: @Lemanracing can’t pass the 3 French skiiers in final, 4th post-crash: http://t.co/NzTaOmnXVr #CBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/VjuH8rtr5j — CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 20, 2014
Thanks for staying up, #Canada. Here’s to @Lemanracing for keeping us glued to the TV. #WeAreWinter pic.twitter.com/DHvxtSzWFL — CDN Olympic Team (@CDNOlympicTeam) February 20, 2014
Canada’s other medal hopefuls included Dave Duncan, who wiped out in an early heat costing him a chance to make amends for missing the Vancouver Games with a broken collarbone.
Dave Duncan’s out in the first round. Lost his footing and couldn’t get back in touch. — Eric MacKenzie (@EricMacKenzie) February 20, 2014
Fellow Canadian Chris Del Bosco didn’t have any luck either.
Tried to make up ground after getting bumped, Del Bosco will not move on to the quarterfinals. #WeAreWinter
— CDN Olympic Team (@CDNOlympicTeam) February 20, 2014
Zero medals for Canada, but the replays will be worth watching for sure.
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Wake up! Still to come today: Canada goes for gold in ski halfpipe, curling and women’s hockey
It’s the one hockey game that needs no introduction: Canada versus USA. The two nations are head and shoulders above the rest of the world in the women’s game and they will face-off for gold yet again. The U.S. has been the better team a since losing the gold medal game in Vancouver, though Canada won their round robin in Sochi 3-2. It’s guaranteed to be a classic. Puck drops at noon EST/9 a.m. PST.
Jennifer Jones already made Olympic history by going undefeated int he curling round robin, but that will merely be a consolation prize if she doesn’t take home the gold medal. A win over the 2013 World Champions from Great Britain in the semi-final set up this final game against Sweden. Canada beat the Swedes 9-3 in the round robin. Can she do it once more for gold? Find out at 8:30 am. EST/5:30 a.m. PST.
Canada’s ski halfpipe team already won a silver medal thanks to Mike Riddle in the men’s competition, and the women have a chance to add to that tally today. Look out for Roz Groenewoud, a two-time X Games gold medallist, a strong contender for the podium. The women fly at 9:30 a.m. EST/6:30 a.m. PST.