By: Randy Starkman and Kevin McGran (Toronto Star)
WHISTLER, B.C.—It took an athlete with the Maple Leaf tattooed on his heart to seize a gold medal in the mountains for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Just two hours after gold-medal favourite Mellisa Hollingworth suffered a crushing fifth-place finish, Jon Montgomery of Russell, Man., made like a red-headed rocket to pull off a thrilling come from behind victory in men’s skeleton Friday night at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
A fast-talking auto auctioneer who counts former hockey great Theo Fleury as his hero, Montgomery delivered a clutch performance to win Canada’s first medal in Whistler and salvage what had been a disappointing day for Canada up until then. The men’s alpine team fell short of the medals in a super-G.
“I never lost my confidence,” Montgomery said. “There were moments where it looked like I wouldn’t win. But like the turtle and hare, slow and steady I won the race. Unbelievable. Couldn’t ask for a better scenario. It hasn’t completely set in yet.”
Montgomery had trailed Martins Dukurs of Latvia by 18/100ths of a second heading into the final run and had been asked if he’d be conservative to preserve the silver medal.
“No chance to win if I do so,” he said.
Montgomery was pretty much flawless in that final run, putting himself in the centre of the track and picking up speed all the way down to finish with a four-run total of 3:29.73.
It was then up to Dukurs, the reigning World Cup champion. He was in first most of the way down, but then began to lose control and time. As he got closer to the finish, it looked like he might not hold the lead.
When Dukurs crossed the line in second, the bearded Montgomery began to shout and punch his fist several times into the air as the crowd at the finish went wild. Cowbells rang incessantly and Canadian flags waved proudly as an impromptu rendition of O Canada rang out among the fans.
“He deserves it,” said teammate Jeff Pain. “He slid unbelievable. He was great. Trained well, prepared well. To see anybody on the podium wearing a maple leaf is a proud, proud moment. I’m speechless. Jon and I are fierce competitors, we push each other. He’s younger and stronger and better. He’s a great slider. He’s got a lot to learn and higher places to reach.”
Montgomery got a Maple Leaf tattooed on his chest when he was in Grade 11. His mother took him to get it. He went back a year later and got the word “Canada” tattooed on top of it.
“Growing up, my father was a Canadian history teacher,” Montgomery said. “He was definitely a very patriotic Canadian and that rubbed off on me. I was always a very proud Canadian and wanted to emblazon it on my chest to let everybody know that. And certainly if I was ever found dead in a ditch, they’d know which country to send me home to.”
Montgomery, the top hope for medal on the men’s skeleton side, was not worried about expectations entering the Games.
“It’s a matter of whether you want to look at it as support or a pressure to perform,” he said. “In my case, I don’t think you’d think any less of me should I not get gold on the day of the Games. I think most people will credit you with having tried and representing your country to the best of your ability, regardless of the results. As opposed to people will hate me and think I’m a moron and never talk to me again if I don’t perform today.”
Mike Douglas of Toronto was seventh heading into the third heat Friday, but he never got to race. He was officially disqualified because he failed to take the covers off his runners in time. His sled was supposed to be in Parc Ferme, the start area, 45 minutes before race time. Montgomery was a world silver medallist two years ago and won a World Cup on this Olympic track last year, but this had been a spotty season for him. There was a victory in Cesana, Italy, but a lot of indifferent results as well.
Like his hockey hero Fleury, the personable Montgomery hung tough.
“Theo was always a big inspiration because of his stature, being so small and having such great success in the NHL, arguably one of the best players of his time. He led you to believe if you want it bad enough, you can get it.”
Just two hours after gold-medal favourite Mellisa Hollingworth suffered a crushing fifth-place finish, Jon Montgomery of Russell, Man., made like a red-headed rocket to pull off a thrilling come from behind victory in men’s skeleton Friday night at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
A fast-talking auto auctioneer who counts former hockey great Theo Fleury as his hero, Montgomery delivered a clutch performance to win Canada’s first medal in Whistler and salvage what had been a disappointing day for Canada up until then. The men’s alpine team fell short of the medals in a super-G.
“I never lost my confidence,” Montgomery said. “There were moments where it looked like I wouldn’t win. But like the turtle and hare, slow and steady I won the race. Unbelievable. Couldn’t ask for a better scenario. It hasn’t completely set in yet.”
Montgomery had trailed Martins Dukurs of Latvia by 18/100ths of a second heading into the final run and had been asked if he’d be conservative to preserve the silver medal.
“No chance to win if I do so,” he said.
Montgomery was pretty much flawless in that final run, putting himself in the centre of the track and picking up speed all the way down to finish with a four-run total of 3:29.73.
It was then up to Dukurs, the reigning World Cup champion. He was in first most of the way down, but then began to lose control and time. As he got closer to the finish, it looked like he might not hold the lead.
When Dukurs crossed the line in second, the bearded Montgomery began to shout and punch his fist several times into the air as the crowd at the finish went wild. Cowbells rang incessantly and Canadian flags waved proudly as an impromptu rendition of O Canada rang out among the fans.
“He deserves it,” said teammate Jeff Pain. “He slid unbelievable. He was great. Trained well, prepared well. To see anybody on the podium wearing a maple leaf is a proud, proud moment. I’m speechless. Jon and I are fierce competitors, we push each other. He’s younger and stronger and better. He’s a great slider. He’s got a lot to learn and higher places to reach.”
Montgomery got a Maple Leaf tattooed on his chest when he was in Grade 11. His mother took him to get it. He went back a year later and got the word “Canada” tattooed on top of it.
“Growing up, my father was a Canadian history teacher,” Montgomery said. “He was definitely a very patriotic Canadian and that rubbed off on me. I was always a very proud Canadian and wanted to emblazon it on my chest to let everybody know that. And certainly if I was ever found dead in a ditch, they’d know which country to send me home to.”
Montgomery, the top hope for medal on the men’s skeleton side, was not worried about expectations entering the Games.
“It’s a matter of whether you want to look at it as support or a pressure to perform,” he said. “In my case, I don’t think you’d think any less of me should I not get gold on the day of the Games. I think most people will credit you with having tried and representing your country to the best of your ability, regardless of the results. As opposed to people will hate me and think I’m a moron and never talk to me again if I don’t perform today.”
Mike Douglas of Toronto was seventh heading into the third heat Friday, but he never got to race. He was officially disqualified because he failed to take the covers off his runners in time. His sled was supposed to be in Parc Ferme, the start area, 45 minutes before race time. Montgomery was a world silver medallist two years ago and won a World Cup on this Olympic track last year, but this had been a spotty season for him. There was a victory in Cesana, Italy, but a lot of indifferent results as well.
Like his hockey hero Fleury, the personable Montgomery hung tough.
“Theo was always a big inspiration because of his stature, being so small and having such great success in the NHL, arguably one of the best players of his time. He led you to believe if you want it bad enough, you can get it.”
No comments:
Post a Comment