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Canada has hosted the Olympics twice (1976 in Montreal and 1988 in Calgary) but failed both times to win a gold medal. Vowing to "own the podium" in Vancouver, the Canadians are facing considerable pressure to end the trend. Here's five events where they can get it done.
SATURDAY, FEB. 13
Alpine - Men's Downhill
Candidate: Manuel Osborne-Paradis
Credentials: 2006 Olympian
Preview: Vancouver native Manuel Osborne-Paradis had a strong 2008-09 season, finishing fifth in the downhill World Cup standings. Osborne-Paradis will benefit from competing on his home mountain in 2010 - he lists the Dave Murray Downhill course as his favorite run growing up in Whistler. Fellow Canadian John Kucera was also a strong candidate but he broke his leg during a race in November and will be out for the Olympics.
Contenders: Aksel Lund Svindal (NOR), Didier Cuche (SUI), Michael Walchhofer (AUT), Carlo Janka (SUI)
Bottom line: Medal contender
Freestyle - Women's Moguls
Candidate: Jennifer Heil
Credentials: 2006 gold medalist
Preview: Jennifer Heil has both the consistency and the stage presence to win Canada's first gold medal of the Games. Someone who's been unable to perform alchemy, turning World Cup success into Olympic gold, is American Hannah Kearney. Kearney was expected to contend for gold in Torino, but finished a disastrous 22nd. Four years wiser, she could upstage Heil in Vancouver. But, should Heil prevail, her winning smile will be splashed across the front page of every newspaper from Cape Spear, Newfoundland to Whitehorse, Yukon.
Contenders: Hannah Kearney (USA), Aiko Uemura (JPN), Nikokla Sudova (CZE), Margarita Marbler (AUT)
Bottom line: Gold medal favorite
SUNDAY, FEB. 14
Speed Skating - Women's 3000 m
Candidates: Kristina Groves, Cindy Klassen
Credentials: Groves took bronze at 2009 Worlds, while Klassen is the current world record holder and 2002 and 2006 Olympic bronze medalist
Preview: Canada has the deepest pool of women's speed skaters in the world. If Klassen is able to return to form, and that's still a big if, the gold could be hers. Groves, on the other hand, would need significant help from her competitors to finish first. Czech skater Martina Sablikova has been utterly dominant in recent years, winning the 2008-09 overall World Cup title and managing silver at the 2009 Worlds will battling a fever. Sablikova is the runaway favorite in both the 3000m and 5000m events.
Contenders: Martina Sablikova (CZE), Renate Groenewold (NED)
Bottom line: Outside medal contender
Freestyle - Men's Moguls
Candidates: Alexandre Bilodeau, Vincent Marquis
Credentials: Bilodeau is the 2009 overall World Cup champion; Marquis is a 2009 World Championship bronze medalist
Preview: In the unpredictable men's moguls competition, the field is open. At 2009 Worlds, newcomer Patrick Deneen of the U.S. was crowned world champion for his first career international title. Bilodeau, 21, is considered the golden boy of the Canadian freestyle team with Marquis, 25, also a capable competitor. The pair should have less pressure than their moguls countrywoman, Heil, to succeed. The wild card here is Canadian-born Australian Dale Begg-Smith, the defending Olympic champion. Begg-Smith skied through lingering knee problems throughout the 2008-09 season before finally deciding on surgery after a World Cup event in Deer Valley, Utah. Begg-Smith has been rehabbing in Vancouver and all signs point to a full recovery.
Contenders: Dale Begg-Smith (AUS) Patrick Deneen (USA), Guilbaut Colas (FRA)
Bottom line: Likely medalist
MONDAY, FEB. 15
Speed Skating - Men's 500 m
Candidate: Jeremy Wotherspoon
Credentials: 2008 World Single Distance Championships gold medalist, current world record holder
Preview: Canadian commentators suggest that if Wotherspoon manages a gold in his signature event, he'll instantly become the face of the Games. But if Canada gets to his event and somehow still hasn't won its first gold of the Games, the pressure will be even greater. It's early to predict his standing, especially since the 1998 Olympic silver medalist sat out most of the 2008-09 season, but Wotherspoon should still be in the mix for gold.
Contenders: Lee Kang-Seok (KOR), Yu Fengtong (CHN)
Bottom line: Gold medal contender
