Mark McMorris says he’ll pull out all his toughest tricks in his bid for a second Olympic slopestyle medal.
The 28-year-old from Regina led a trio of Canadian snowboarders into the slopestyle final at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games on Sunday.
The 2018 Olympic bronze medallist posted the the second-highest score of the day, as Sébastien Toutant qualified in seventh, and Max Parrot in 10th after their two runs.
“To be given a berth into tomorrow’s final and at least have a shot at a medal, that’s most important,” McMorris said.
“Yeah, just trying to put it all together from top to bottom isn’t an easy task.”
WATCH | While You Were Sleeping: Day 1
While You Were Sleeping: Figure skater Madeline Schizas shines, Canadians qualify for snowboard slopestyle final
2 hours ago
Duration 4:50
Canadians made headlines in men’s snowboard slopestyle and figure skating. Catch up on it all with CBC Sports’ Jacqueline Doorey. 4:50
McMorris is coming off an X Games gold medal in slopestyle only two weeks ago, and will look to return to the podium in the slopestyle final, which you can watch live on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app, and CBC Gem on Sunday beginning at 11:10 p.m. ET.
WATCH | Mark McMorris leads trio of Canadians into Olympic snowboard slopestyle final:
Mark McMorris leads trio of Canadians into Olympic snowboard slopestyle final
9 hours ago
Duration 7:46
Mark McMorris qualified in second place, Sebastien Toutant qualified in eighth place and Max Parrot qualified in tenth place, as all three Canadians advanced to the men’s snowboard slopestyle final at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. 7:46
Canadians miss podium in women’s moguls
For the first time since 2002, there will not be a Canadian on the women’s Olympic moguls podium.
Chloé Dufour-Lapointe — the 2014 Olympic silver medallist — was the top Canadian, finishing in ninth place with a score of 72.96 in the second round of the three-round final.
Sofiane Gagnon, a 22-year-old Olympic rookie from Whistler, B.C., had made it into the second round, but fell on her run and did not finish.
Justine Dufour-Lapointe , Chloe’s sister, did not advance to the second round, crashing in her run. Although the two-time Olympic medallist did not technically finish, she called for another pole to finish her run down the hill.
WATCH | Justine Dufour-Lapointe crashes out of moguls competition:
Justine Dufour-Lapointe crashes out of moguls competition
4 hours ago
Duration 2:57
The 2014 Olympic champion lost control during her run in Final 1 at Beijing 2022. 2:57
“Life is not always so easy. But I just want to make sure everyone at home knows that I never gave up,” an emotional Justine Dufour-Lapointe said after her run.
“I fought over those past four years, so hard, to give you that Justine [that] was willing to take risks, and ski with fire and dignity, and that’s the only thing tonight I did. It’s not an easy one, but I’m going to keep smiling through it.”
The best person to have by your side is a sister ❤️<br><br>Chloé Dufour-Lapointe comforts sister her Justine <a href=”https://t.co/B8YTSSMb5A”>pic.twitter.com/B8YTSSMb5A</a>
I’ll just let John Morris contextualize last night’s match for you: “We grabbed a win from the depths of defeat in that one. That was a wild one.”
No kidding.
Rachel Homan and Morris were pushed to the brink against the Czech Republic in mixed doubles curling.
But the Canadian duo made one clutch shot after another down the stretch, forcing an extra end, and stealing two points to come away with a thrilling 7-5 win at the National Aquatics Centre — a.k.a. The Ice Cube.
WATCH | Highlights: Homan, Morris win a thriller in mixed doubles
Highlights: Homan, Morris steal victory for Canada in mixed doubles curling
7 hours ago
Duration 13:20
Canada’s Rachel Homan and John Morris defeats Czech Republic 7-5 in an extra end. The Canadian mixed doubles curling duo improve to 5-2 and are tied for second place with Great Britain. 13:20
Down by one point going into the final stone of the eighth end, Homan delivered with a draw for two – with their play clock winding down – to send it to an extra end.
Although the Czechs had the hammer, Canada was unfazed stealing two in the extra end, leaving the Czechs without much of a shot on their last rock.
“That was probably the most dramatic curling game I’ve ever been a part of,” Morris said.
The Canadians now carry a 5-2 was record and control their own fate to make it into the semifinal, with two round robin matches to go.
The pair are back on the ice at 7 a.m., ET, where they can clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Australians — who themselves had a wild day.
Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt originally withdrew from their Sunday match against Switzerland over a positive COVID-19 test, only to be allowed to compete at the last minute and come away with the country’s first ever win in Olympic curling.
Australia – what a day.<br>They thought they were going home. Until they got a medical reprieve.<br>They sped to the rink in a cab,put their shoes on in the hallway and WON their 1st game.<br><br>Next, they face the man who had been their coach <a href=”https://twitter.com/johnnymocurler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@johnnymocurler</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbccurl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#cbccurl</a> <a href=”https://t.co/OBUDmgZyts”>pic.twitter.com/OBUDmgZyts</a>
Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen failed to reach the podium in a tough 5,000 metre race.
The 2018 Olympic silver medallist in the event started strong, getting out ahead of the lead pace by the 1,400-metre mark.
But the 35-year-old couldn’t keep it up, finishing in 10th place, 10.27 seconds behind world-record holder Nils van der Poel of Sweden, who set an Olympic record en route to the gold medal.
“I don’t know what happened,” a dejected Bloemen said, adding he executed his race plan.
“I’m really confused. I don’t understand it. I don’t know what to say.”
Bloemen will have another shot at a podium, skating the 10,000 metres on Feb. 11, in a race which he is the defending Olympic champion. The 25-year-old van der Poel is also competing and is expected to medal, being the current world record holder at the distance as well.
WATCH | Canadian speed skater Ted-Jan Bloemen finishes 10th in men’s 5,000m:
Canadian speed skater Ted-Jan Bloemen finishes 10th in men’s 5,000m
6 hours ago
Duration 7:55
Two-time Olympic medallist Ted-Jan Bloemen of Canada placed 10th in the men’s speed skating 5,000m final with a time of 6:19.11. 7:55
Keegan Messing update
He’s en route!
Keegan Messing passed his fourth and final PCR test and is on his way to Beijing from Montreal.
He will arrive in Beijing in time to compete in the men’s program, despite missing the men’s singles portion of the team event. He’s set to skate in the men’s singles event on Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET.
BREAKING<br><br>Canadian figure skater Keegan Messing has passed his fourth test in Montreal and is en route to Beijing. <br><br>He arrives tomorrow morning, in time for the men’s program. <a href=”https://twitter.com/CBCOlympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@CBCOlympics</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/CBCAlerts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@CBCAlerts</a>
Laurie Blouin narrowly missed out on a second Olympic slopestyle medal.
The 25-year-old from Quebec City, and 2018 Olympic silver medallist, finished fourth in the final posting a score of 81.41.
“I’m stoked but I was so close. I need to be proud of myself,” Blouin said after the competition.
Blouin will also compete in the big air competition next week. She made the final at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, but fell on her first jump and after failing to land her second and scoring 39.25, didn’t attempt a third.
However she won the gold medal in the event at the world championships last year, as well as a gold at the 2019 X Games.
WATCH | Quebec’s Laurie Blouin just misses landing on Olympic snowboard slopestyle podium:
Quebec’s Laurie Blouin just misses landing on Olympic snowboard slopestyle podium
13 hours ago
Duration 2:26
2018 Olympic silver medallist Laurie Blouin of Stoneham, Que., finished in fourth place in the women’s snowboard slopestyle final at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. 2:26
Canadian powers it out in skiathlon
Olivier Léveillé was the top Canadian in the men’s 30-kilometre skiathlon.
The 20-year-old from Sherbrooke, Que., finished 31st in the race in one hour, 23 minutes and 42 seconds.
“It went well. It’s a tough course but I tried to go at my pace,” Léveillé said. “Definitely in that second half, the pace really picked up. I didn’t reach my goal, I wanted a top-30. But I’ll have other chances.”
Antoine Cyr, 23, from Gatineau finished in 42nd, and 21-year-old Remi Drolet from Rossland, B.C., did not finish the race, having been lapped by the leader.
Russian Olympic Committee racers Alexander Bolshunov and Denis Spitsov took the top two places on the podium. Heavy medal favourite Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, finished in a shocking 40th place.
Strong winds force postponement of men’s downhill
The men’s alpine skiing downhill event is now scheduled for 11 p.m. ET on Sunday as strong winds postponed the event from its originally scheduled time.
Broderick Thompson, Jack Crawford and Brodie Seger are the three Canadians competing.
The third practice session was also scrapped because of the wind, but both Thompson and Crawford put up strong times in their respective sessions. Crawford finished fifth in the first training run, with Thompson posting the third-best time in the second run.
WATCH | Canada’s Broderick Thompson finishes 3rd in downhill training run:
Canada’s Broderick Thompson finishes 3rd in downhill training run
2 days ago
Duration 1:02
Broderick Thompson from Whistler, B.C., completes his Olympic alpine downhill training session with a time of 1:43.92. 1:02
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
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