ATHLETE RESULTS

NORDHAGEN-VIERLING CLAIMS SIXTH WORLD WRESTLING TITLE

SOFIA, BUL--Christine Nordhagen-Vierling claimed her sixth world wrestling title this past weekend at the World Championships. The 30-year-old from Valhalla Centre, Alta., beat American Toccara Montgomery for gold.

Christine Nordhagen-Vierling battles Toccara Montgomery(USA) for gold. Reuters/Dimitar Dilkoff

"It was a long day," said Nordhagen-Vierling, who returned to the 68-kilogram weight class after competing the last two years at 75 kilograms. "I could fall asleep right now." The world championships were supposed to be held at Madison Square Garden in New York in September, but were delayed almost three months and moved to Sofia following the terrorist attacks in the U.S.

Nordhagen-Vierling had lost to Montgomery in the final in Phoenix, so was happy to get another crack at her. "I was bit nervous earlier on just because I had lost to her before, but I was able to refocus," she said. "But by the time I got on the mat I was confident. My coaches had worked with me ahead of time to take away her best offence so I knew what was coming. I think it was the experience I had that allowed me to win."

With women's wrestling almost assured entry into the 2004 Olympic Games, Nordhagen-Vierling and her husband and coach, Leigh Vierling, want to try to have a family and still give her time to prepare for Athens. "I know that I want to wrestle in the Olympics," said Nordhagen-Vierling.

FORSYTH CAPTURES FIRST PODIUM FINISH OF THE SEASON

COPPER MTN, USA--Allison Forsyth captured Canada's first alpine skiing podium of the season, finishing second on the Main Vein at Copper Mountain in Colorado. Norway's Andrine Flemmen won her second career giant slalom, edging Forsyth by 0.57 seconds.

"I feel good," said Forsyth. "I went out and skied two strong runs and ended up on the podium. I feel especially great because the hill is actually very flat," she continued. "It's a very easy hill which is definitely not my most favorite." For Forsyth, the second place finish was her fourth career podium and first in North America. The 23-year-old has started the World Cup season in prime form after placing fourth in Sölden at the outset of this year's campaign. Forsyth attributes her balanced approach as a key to early season success.

Allison Forsyth celebrates her second place finish in the GS. AP/Alex Trovati

"I'm a lot more relaxed this year," she stated. "I'm trying to act a lot more professional. I'm taking the good days with the bad. I'm not getting stressed out between runs like I used to and I'm just trying to ski my best every day, every run in training and in racing," she added. With her strong start, Forsyth is now third in the women's World Cup giant slalom standings with 130 points, trailing leaders Sonja Nef (160 pts) and Michaela Dorfmeister (136).

Forsyth placed 24th with a two-run time of 1:40.94 the following day in the slalom event.

Women's action resumes on Canadian soil next week with two downhills and a Super-G as Lake Louise plays host to the Winterstart World Cup from
November 29 to December 1.

KLASSEN CLAIMS FIRST WORLD CUP SPEED SKATING MEDAL

THE HAGUE, NED--Cindy Klassen went head-to-head with the number-one ranked speed skater in the world Sunday and earned the silver medal in the 1,500 metres at a long track World Cup competition. World all around champion Anni Friesinger of Germany, who has won all seven World Cups so far this season, picked up another victory with a time of 2:00.31.

Klassen(L) on the podium in the Netherlands. Reuters/Jerry Lampen

Klassen, a triple medallist at the world championships last year, earned a first career World Cup medal finishing in 2:01.20. Maki Tabata of Japan was third in 2:01.39. "It's nice to end a long road trip this way and get that confidence before coming home," said Klassen, now third in the World Cup 1,500 standings . "I was getting a little frustrated with the fourth and fifths to start the season but now that doesn't matter anymore."

Clara Hughes placed fifth in her first ever 5,000-metre race at the international level, the best World Cup result of her career. Hughes, a double of Olympic bronze medallist in cycling at the 1996 Olympics, traded in her spokes for blades after the Sydney Games. "I was looking forward to proving myself in the 5,000," said Hughes. "I was really happy with my performance. But I'm still learning a lot because I don't have that much international experience. My goal for this season was a top-five and I'm surprised to achieve it this early." Klassen finished 8th in the 5000m, while Kristina Groves was 12th.

Dustin Molicki, a silver medallist last weekend, was also fifth in the men's 1,500. Kevin Marshall was 11th.

Meanwhile at the CAN-AM International at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Catriona Le May Doan, the current 500m world record holder and defending 500m Olympic gold medallist, skated the fastest 400m lap ever with a lap time of 27.04 seconds, the best-ever clocking by a female, as she won the sprint ladies event with a time of 37.38 -- just a tenth of a second off her world record time of 37.29. complete results from that competition.

SWIMMERS CONTINUE TO REWRITE THE RECORD BOOKS

EDMONTON--Rick Say captured two gold medals and lowered another Canadian record on Saturday to keep up his torrid early-season pace on the World Cup short course swimming circuit.

Say, who came home with three gold medals from the opening World Cup in Rio de Janeiro last weekend, won the 200 and 1,500 freestyle on Saturday to add to the gold he picked up on Friday in the 400 freestyle. In the 200 Say clocked 1:45.59 seconds to lower his previous national mark of 1:45.81 set last weekend.

"The pool conditions were much better here than in Brazil and that was probably the big difference," said Say, who won the 400 freestyle in Canadian record time Friday. "I didn't really expect the record because I was still feeling the effects of my 400 race. But I was having a great weekend and feeling very positive."

Rick Say

Other Canadian winners were Morgan Knabe who completed a breaststroke gold medal sweep winning the 100. Knabe broke the national record in the men's 200-metre breaststroke, one of four Canadian marks eclipsed Friday, in opening night races at the second stop on the World Cup swimming circuit.

Morgan Knabe

Knabe clocked two minutes and 08.71 seconds to lower the 2:08.82 standard set by the late Victor Davis in 1987. It was the oldest short course national mark in the books. Davis now only holds one national record- the 200 breaststroke long course. Knabe owns the other five. "I've been wanting that one for awhile," said Knabe, who won his race by more than four seconds and also placed first in the 50 breaststroke. "It's the first season that I've really put a big effort in the 200. But I had a lot confidence going in because of my training. I was able to pull through it and didn't fade at the end."

The third stop on the World Cup is Tuesday and Wednesday in New York.

SMITH CLINCHES SPOT ON SALT LAKE CITY OLYMPIC BOBSLEIGH TEAM

IGLS, AUT--Christina Smith, with brakeman Lesa Stringer, rocketed her Canada 2 sled to a fourth place finish with a combined time of 1:49.11, only 0.08 seconds behind the bronze medal winner, in the fifth Women's Bobsleigh World Cup in Igls, Austria.

Smith's top-six finish assures that she will compete for Canada in the 2002 Salt Lake Games in February.

"We finally put two and two together," Smith said. "I know this track well. I know where the fast lines are and how to keep the speed. I did what the coaches told me to do. Ivo Ferriani and Sigi Feuser helped instill the proper lines and it all worked. Lesa and I are still pretty bruised up from our crash in Königssee, but my heart is healed and my mind is as clear and focussed as ever." Starting 13th in the first heat, Smith's piloting skills helped overcome weak 11th and 13th place push starts to finish fourth overall.

Christine Fraser in the Canada 1 sled with brakeman Paula McKenzie, crashed in corner 11 in the second heat doing more than 110 km/hr, yet managed to place 15th overall with a combined time of 1:50.33. "We went down fighting," she said this evening. "We're a little sore, a little bruised, but nothing is going to keep us away from tomorrow's race."

After five World Cup events, Smith sits ninth in the standings with 102 points; Fraser is right on her heels in tenth spot with 101 points.

Fraser and McKenzie posted Canada's best finish the following day in the 6th World Cup. Smith and Stringer, 33 placed 12th, a disappointing finish after placing 4th the day before.

NORDIC SKIERS DONATE WINNINGS TO UNICEF

SILVER STAR, BC--Thanks to a challenge presented by North America's top skier Beckie Scott, Canadian and American skiers raised a total of $2,200.00 Cdn for the Afghanistan Relief Fund. The money was raised through athletes donating their prize money won in this weekend's Subaru Continental Cup race action.

Beckie Scott

The race week, which was sponsored by Merrill Lynch, was made up of three Subaru Continental Cup races on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, with $675.00 in prize money presented to the top skiers in each category. Each of the three events offered a total purse of $2250.00. "It's a little less than I expected, I actually thought that people would donate more," said Scott, referring to the total amount raised. "However, skiers aren't the wealthiest of athletes, so I do understand. I guess we can be happy with what was raised."

The Canadian Team raised $1,525.00 in donations. The American Team raised $675.00.
Results for the event are posted here.

The women's team leaves for Europe next Thursday to join the World Cup series.

KRAUS NAMED TO OLYMPIC SHORT TRACK TEAM

ABBOTSFORD, B.C.--An almost perfect mix of veterans and newcomers will represent Canada at the Olympic Games in short track speed skating following the final day of competition Sunday at the team trials. The marathon 10-day competition determined the 12-member squad for the 2002 Games this February in Salt Lake City.

The men's team has four returning veterans from Nagano: Marc Gagnon and Jonathan Guilmette of Montreal, Mathieu Turcotte of Sherbrooke, Que., and double Olympic medallist Eric Bedard of Ste-Thecle, Que.

The first time Olympians are Francois-Louis Tremblay of Boucherville, Que., and Jean-Francois Monette of Montreal. The women's team is comprised of veterans Annie Perreault of Rock Forest, Que., Isabelle Charest of Montreal, both headed to their third Games and Tania Vicent of Montreal. The three first time Olympians are Alanna Kraus of Abbotsford and teenagers Marie-Eve Drolet of Chicoutimi, Que., and Amelie Goulet-Nadon of Laval.

Alanna Kraus

Drolet, the two-time defending world junior champion, dominated the competition with sixth wins while Kraus was a model of consistency reaching 11 finals for second overall. Goulet-Nadon, 18, was third overall. Kraus returned to the rink where she learned to speed skate but did her best to avoid distractions. She even stayed at the team's hotel rather than with family. "I'm just relieved this is over and done with," said Kraus. "Everybody's worn out. But we've got a great team with a lot of international experience."

ALCOCK CONTINUES TO IMPRESS ON SKELETON
WORLD CUP TOUR

IGLS, AUT--Canada's Lindsay Alcock, appearing in only her second World Cup event, continued to impress coaches and athletes alike by finishing fourth. This result puts Alcock just two top-six finishes away from qualifying for the Olympics.

Lindsay Alcock

Alcock's teammate Michelle Kelly was in first place after the first run and had set the track record with a 55.33. Kelly had a disastrous second run and ended up dropping to 7th place. Mellissa Hollingsworth rounded out the Canadian women's team with a 12th place showing. That skeleton is a sport of "thrills, spills and chills", was not lost on Canada's Jeff Pain. Pain, who consistently finds his way to the podium, finished an unusually low 12th place.

Coaches considered not allowing Pain to slide at all considering the had succumbed to a flu bug. Canada's top male result came from Duff Gibson who finished in 8th. Fellow Canadians Pascal Richard and rookie Nathan Cicoria finished 19th and 31st respectively.

CANADIANS DEFEATED AT SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

GLASGOW, Scotland - William Milroy and Denyse Julien were defeated in the mixed doubles final Sunday at the Scottish International Badminton Championships. Milroy and Julien lost 8-6, 7-1, 8-6 to Robert Blair and Natalie Munt of England.

William Milroy and Brian Prevoe were eliminated in the first round In men's singles, Andrew Dabeka was eliminated in the semifinals, Bob Milroy in the second round and Stefan Wojikiewicz of Ottawa in the first round. In women's singles, Solmundson was eliminated in the quarterfinals, Julien and Charmaine Reid in the second round and Jody Patrick in the first round. In women's doubles Patrick and Reid fell in the quarterfinals.

IN THE NEWS....

RCMP LAUNCH PARALYMPIC FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

Ottawa, ON--The RCMP launched a major new fundraising initiative last week to raise up to $600,000 to help Canada's Paralympic athletes reach the medal podium at the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is the Force's first artwork fundraising campaign for Canadian Paralympic athletes.

RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli announced the artwork fundraising program on Parliament Hill, as he and Paralympic medal winner Karolina Wisniewska unveiled the first print of "Team Canada." Created by RCMP Constable Todd Gray, this print depicts a mounted RCMP officer congratulating a Canadian Paralympic athlete on the Team's success. Through this program, supporters make a charitable donation of $250 for a Limited Edition or $1,000 to receive an Artist's Proof of the print.

Karolina Wisniewska with Commissioner Zaccardelli

The proceeds will help the Canadian Paralympic Committee support Canadian athletes competing at the Winter Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City in March 2002. The Paralympic Games are the premiere international sport competition for athletes with a disability.

The RCMP has been a strong supporter of Canada's Paralympic team for years, most recently for the 2000 Summer Paralympic Games in Sydney, where Canada won 96 medals and ranked fourth overall.

The money raised will help finance the athletes' travel, uniforms, equipment and supplies, entry fees and other expenses associated with the Salt Lake competition and future Paralympic events.

"The entire Paralympic Family is enormously grateful to the RCMP for this very significant indication of their respect and support for our athletes," concluded Henry Wohler, Chef de Mission, 2002 Canadian Paralympic Team. more information....

FINAL OLYMPIC ROSTER FOR WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM ANNOUNCED

CALGARY, ALBERTA - CHA president Bob Nicholson announced on Tuesday that Canada's National Women's Team Head Coach and General Manager Danièle Sauvageau has finalized and named Canada's roster for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Canada's roster includes 11 players that won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Combined, the 21 players have won 71 World Championship gold medals.

"Today represents a new beginning for our team as we now prepare for the 2002 Winter Olympics Games after naming our team that will represent Canada," said Sauvageau. "It has been a very competitive environment for the past four months of centralization in Calgary, with 30 players challenging for 21 spots. As a team we will now make our preparation and focus our top priorities as we aim to reach our peak in Salt Lake City."

Canada's National Women's Team will continue to train in Calgary, AB and will be playing a number of games over the next few months, leading to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in February. More information...