CBC Sports Online : 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City, Utah : Speed Skating

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Jeremy Wotherspoon's modest ambitions
Canada's three-time world sprint champion is almost as well-known among his peers for his laid-back approach as for his blistering, world-beating speed. But that demeanour belies a perfectionism and fierce competitive drive.
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Life in the slow lane for Canada's speed queen
Speed-skating superstar Catriona Le May Doan will be the most visible Canadian at Friday night's Opening Ceremonies for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics. Serving as the Canadian flag-bearer is only the latest honour for the defending Olympic champion, who also knows how to keep things in perspective.
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Timing is everything for Eric Brisson
Clara Hughes: An Olympian for all seasons
Cindy Klassen: From slap shots to clap skates
Mike Ireland: Life with Big Brother
Susan Auch: Back on the Track


Like many winter sports, skating developed as a means of transportation. It appeared first in Northern Europe, and was used as a quick way of getting across icy canals and rivers. Few of those early skaters could have anticipated the record-breaking exploits of skaters like Catriona Le May Doan on state-of-the-art ovals.	Canadians could be very familiar with long-track speed skating once the Olympics are over, if the Canadian team performs to its capabilities. It may be the simplest of Olympic events and the most physically demanding, requiring immense strength, impeccable form and shrewd pacing. You also won't see humans move any faster without the aid of wheels, gravity or fuel. Find out more about the nuances of speed skating >>>	Rocker: The amount of curve of the part of a skate blade that touches the ice; hockey skates, for example, have plenty of rocker, allowing for quick turns and maneuvering, while speed skate blades have almost no rocker, which allows for greater speed on the straightaways, but less agility. Find out more about the language of Speed Skating.


	Men 500m Wotherspoon, his buddy Fitzrandolph and his nemesis Shimizu 1000m Canadians Wotherspoon and Ireland go for one-two finish 1500m Canada's Molicki's on the rise, but Sondral's the best in the big races 5000m Gianni Romme set to lead Dutch sweep 10000m Dutch dominance continues in distance events Women 500m Catriona Le May Doan's dominion 1000m Le May Doan tries to make it two, but Voelker has the edge 1500m Friesinger could be untouchable, but Winnipeg's Klassen poised for medal 3000m German women prepare to dominate, led by Friesinger 5000m Niemann-Stirnemann's out, but German women still formidable

Speed Skating Links
Speed Skating Canada >>> www.speedskating.ca
International Skating Union >>> www.isu.org

Speed Skating Venues
Utah Olympic Oval


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