2010 Memories, Days 4-5: Robertson, Ricker pick up silver and gold in snowboard cross
Credit to Author: Harrison Mooney| Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2020 14:00:51 +0000
Follow along as we look back at the moments that made headlines each day during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Feb. 15-16, 2010: Was Day 4 at the Vancouver Olympics uneventful? Of course not. There were several events. It’s just that none ended with Canadian gold, which is all Canadians wanted after Alex Bilodeau gave the host country its first taste of victory a day prior.
Edmonton’s Mike Robertson came close on Cypress Mountain, leading the men’s snowboard cross final until he was passed by American Seth Wescott at the last moment. It was still an unexpected podium appearance for Robertson, but the Albertan admitted that his silver medal was bittersweet after coming so close to gold. Canadians couldn’t help but agree.
Fortunately, two-time Winter X Games champion Maëlle Ricker fared better in the women’s snowboard cross final the following night.
The North Vancouver native shook off an early fall in qualifying, but found her footing just in time to qualify for and run away with the final on Day 5. Maybe it was her home-court advantage, as the B.C. athlete was competing just minutes from her childhood home, but in the final Ricker took a huge lead out of the starting gate and practically skated to snowboarding gold, in the process becoming the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic gold medal on home soil.
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