World Cup #3**- Nov. 5-8, 2009 - Montreal, Canada

[sk8er]

Apolo won World Championships in March, 2008. In October, 2008 he showed up much lighter and hasn't skated well since. Li Yan was the American ST coach from 2006-2008. She is now the Coach of both the men's and women's Chinese teams. She knows the strengths and weaknesses of Ohno, Baver, Lobello and other skaters who have been on the team for a while. I'm not sure what has happened with Apolo. For his performance to deteriorate over a six month period and thereafter is just a mystery. I'm sure it is to him as well. Some days and some meets are just not your best. You go out there and do the best you can. Look at poor Oliver Jean.....I think his weekend is indicative of the problems an individual, and perhaps a team, can have. I'm glad to have Anthony Lobello out there.....he's had a good amount of international experience. Cho is doing well considering he's in essence just out of the nursery so to speak. One of our men fell in the relay final and that's why they finished last. Remember, half the relay team is out with injury! Temawork is really important in the relay.

It's the joy of the game that keeps them all going and I'm just not going to measure the success or failure of the skaters by how many medals they win. I know that's the only measure of success for USS but I personally just love the sport and enjoy following the efforts of our team, win or lose. Why wasn't Baver on the final relay team? I hope she's not hurt in that last DQ.
SusanG

[Apolo_USA]

I do understand that "our team" won't win every time out. BUT when we have consistently lost since, seriously, the beginning of the Olympic sport, I find that unacceptable.

Yes, they work hard, but if you live your life by the standards of simply working hard and not getting results, you're not going to get very far. The simple fact is that the Koreans work (way) HARDER. And to me, that is unacceptable. There shouldn't be any more lame excuses for our team not winning, because the other teams still are.

It's ok to be disappointed in your team, especially when they've regressed from the last time they were good. It's back to the same old "pray for bronze" for each and every member-even APOLO. It's disappointing, and yes, something does need to be done.
It impossible to fathom that, like tdavis said, Ahn AND Le Ho-Suk are out and we STILL can't even come close. They're just straight up better right now, and team USA better figure it out. New coaches? Maybe. Harder training? Definitely. Releasing skaters like Apolo (or anyone for that matter) to go do interviews for more than 3 or 4 days? Heck no!

People need to stop accepting losing...if we constantly accept it, we'll never win. The sad thing is, is that it seems like no one even cares. "Oh well, we worked 'hard' and did our best." That attitude does NOT get Olympic medals. SOMETHING has to light a fire up their booties, and FAST.

[tdav]

Actually, Jae Su-chun has been the head coach since mid-2007.

My Korean friend (who is a short tracker and lives and breathese Korean short track) told me that the Koreans trained for >= 12 hours a day 6 months prior to Torino, as well as now. I'll tell you what our biggest problem is: strategy. That's how the Koreans win; they have excellent, near-perfect strategy.

Especially in the relay. If they know that China, Korea, and Canada are going to be in the final, shouldn't they "strategize" to stay in the front!? Them not keeping up with the pack in Seoul really made me go "What are they doing!?"

They have to figure out something...well now. Something has to get fixed NOW. And what I still can't understand (whether we have a Korean coach or not) is why we (and every other country) haven't completely adopted Korean training. I'll tell you now, at this rate, we will not medal in Vancouver. And "support" and "believing in them" and etc. doesn't have anything to do with it. It's reality.

[Apolo_USA]

VERY well put tdav. I agree 100 percent.

They've had sub par performances for nearly 2 years now. And I do agree that at this rate of success, we won't medal. MAYBE 1 or 2 individual medals at the most at this point.

I DO believe in supporting them, but I'm not going to be a blind optimist about it. I appreciate that they do represent our country, but I also recognize that they need to step it up A LOT.

[bubblebuttsbabe]

I don't think we're skating the way we should be in terms of what a normal world cup should entail. However, this isn't a normal world cup. This is an Olympic Qualifier. All anyone is trying to do is make sure they can skate in February. Like Tony said "That's all that matters." And quite frankly, for those that have the chance to go to Vancouver, that's all they are probably worried about.

And yes, I do agree, strategy is something we lack. I mean, how many years did we see Apolo's usual 'hang in the back until it was time to shoot to the front' move?! Everyone has evolved, they just have to be consistent. The depth of the team has changed, much more so in the last four years than before.

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Source: ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091108/sports/spd_short_track_wcup

Canadian short-track speedskater Hamelin adds to medal haul at World Cup
Sun Nov 8, 6:20 PM
By Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - Canada's Olympic short-track speedskating team, led by "locomotive" Charles Hamelin, stepped up to the World Cup podium six times in a taste of what's to come at the Games next February.

But the team was bested by the powerful Chinese national team, which took eight medals. South Korea and the United States both won five.

Canadian skaters vowed that they'd have a much better haul in Vancouver. They faced a number of tussles on the ice and disqualifications during this week's meet.

"There's a whole other phase, especially among the women, there's a whole other level of training that we haven't done yet that will be very beneficial after these competitions," said Tania Vicent, of Laval, Que.

Hamelin of Levis, Que., took gold in the 500 and 1,500 metres, and bronze in the 1,000. Kalyna Roberge of St-Etienne-de-Lauzon, Que., scored the silver in the ladies 500.

The men's 5,000 relay Sunday was a thrilling nailbiter, with the Canadians getting heat from the South Koreans right to the last lap.

In the end, the Korean skater Sung Si-Bak helped his country take the gold, passing Canadian Francois-Louis Tremblay by five one-hundredths of a second.

"He surprised me coming out on the outside. I tried to readjust myself but it was the end of the race and I couldn't do much," said Tremblay, from Alma, Que.

The crowd at the Maurice Richard Arena were on their feet, yelling and cheering for most of the lengthy race.

Said Tremblay: "This is a good example of what's going to happen at the Olympics, although we're going to win (gold) at the Olympics."

The women's 3,000 relay team Sunday won bronze after an Italian skater bumped Roberge within the first few laps.

Hamelin has solidified his reputation as Canada's dominant force in short-track speedskating. He was only kept from the top of the pack in the 500 by a wall erected by South Koreans Sung and Lee Jung-Su.

Hamelin said the gruelling schedule this weekend was a factor in the 1,000.

"What happened is the accumulation of races and fatigue a little bit on my side," said Hamelin, who owns the world record at the distance.

"I did all the races today, and all the races yesterday, so I was a little bit tired, but I knew I was able to do it and go in the front and pull the race strong. I was stuck with the Koreans and tried to do the best I can.

"For me, bronze is pretty good because I won three medals in three distances, so perfect for me."

Hamelin's brother, Francois, did not qualify for the 1,000 final, nor did Roberge or Marianne St-Gelais of Roberval, Que., in the women's 1,000.

"It was really fast, and I was tired, but I'm really proud of my performance," said the 19-year-old Gelais. "It's my best result in the 1,000 so I'm really proud."

Chinese women swept the podium in that distance, proving once again they're the ones Gelais and her teammates will be watching closely in Vancouver next February.

Still, Roberge won the silver in the 500 on Saturday, and was in stiff competition with Chinese star Wang Meng for the gold. She said the race proved that Meng was indeed beatable.

Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que. was disqualified in both the 1,000 and 1,500, and Jessica Gregg of Edmonton was disqualified in the women's 500 semifinals.

The 225 athletes from 32 countries competing at the Maurice Richard Arena are working to secure spots for Olympic competition this February in Vancouver. Canada automatically gets one spot in each distance, but would like the maximum of three berths in each.

The results will be combined with rankings next weekend in Marquette, Mich. The top 32 ranked skaters, top 36 in the 1,500, will go on the Olympics. Canadian skaters said they are not concerned about making the cut.

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Women - 1000M - Heats - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 2 LEE Eun-Byul KOR 1:32.318 Q
2 4 ST-GELAIS Marianne CAN 1:32.342 Q
3 3 DERRICK Kimberly USA 1:32.474 q
4 1 KLEIN Aika GER 1:33.156

Heat 2 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 LIU Qiuhong CHN 1:31.762 Q
2 2 WANG Xinyue HKG 1:32.333 Q
3 4 VICENT Tania CAN 1:32.440 q
4 3 MAU ASAM Liesbeth NED 1:33.294

Heat 3 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 ROBERGE Kalyna CAN 1:32.684 Q
2 3 BOUVIER Stephanie FRA 1:32.950 Q
3 2 EVTEEVA Nina RUS 1:33.132 ADV
DQ 4 OZAWA Mika JPN DQ

Heat 4 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 WANG Meng CHN 1:33.276 Q
2 4 HUSZAR Erika HUN 1:33.573 Q
3 2 MAFFEI Cecilia ITA 1:33.913
4 5 ITO Ayuko JPN 1:34.002
5 3 NOVOTNA Katerina CZE 1:36.100

Heat 5 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 2 PARK Seung-Hi KOR 1:32.689 Q
2 3 VAN DOORN Annita NED 1:33.306 Q
3 4 BZURA Paula POL 1:33.558
4 1 WINDISCH Veronika AUT 1:34.093

Heat 6 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 3 ZHOU Yang CHN 1:32.493 Q
2 1 REUTTER Katherine USA 1:32.664 Q
3 4 TER MORS Jorien NED 1:34.786
4 2 PRIEBST Christin GER 1:35.183

Heat 7 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 4 FONTANA Arianna ITA 1:34.355 Q
2 1 BORODULINA Tatiana AUS 1:34.445 Q
3 2 HEIDUM Bernadett HUN 1:34.523
4 3 SAKURAI Biba JPN 1:35.160

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Men - 1000M - Heats - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 LOBELLO Anthony USA 1:28.052 Q
2 4 HAMELIN Francois CAN 1:28.059 Q
3 3 CHATAIGNIER Maxime FRA 1:28.109
4 2 TAKAMIDO Yuzo JPN 1:28.245

Heat 2 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 3 HAMELIN Charles CAN 1:26.098 Q
2 4 OHNO Apolo Anton USA 1:26.327 Q
3 1 RODIGARI Nicola ITA 1:26.385 q
4 2 SUI Bao Ku CHN 1:41.255

Heat 3 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 4 KWAK Yoon-Gy KOR 1:26.579 Q
2 1 CONFORTOLA Yuri ITA 1:26.901 Q
3 3 FUJIMOTO Takahiro JPN 1:27.101 q
4 2 VAN DER WART Freek NED 1:27.167

Heat 4 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 2 SUNG Si-Bak KOR 1:27.579 Q
2 1 GYSEL Pieter BEL 1:27.932 Q
3 4 KNOCH Viktor HUN 1:28.257
4 3 SILOVS Haralds LAT 1:44.932

Heat 5 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 3 SONG Weilong CHN 1:27.807 Q
2 1 FAUCONNET Thibaut FRA 1:27.856 Q
3 2 BEAN Nicolas ITA 1:27.988
4 4 HAY Lachlan AUS 1:28.177

Heat 6 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 3 JAYNER Travis USA 1:27.906 Q
2 1 HEUNG Tyson GER 1:28.719 Q
3 2 ZAKHAROV Ruslan RUS 1:53.802
DQ 4 KNEGT Sjinkie NED DQ

Heat 7 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 LEE Jung-Su KOR 1:29.536 Q
2 2 HAN Jialiang CHN 1:29.654 Q
3 3 ELISTRATOV Semion RUS 1:30.429
4 4 IVESON Tom GBR 1:30.721

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Women - 1000M - Quarterfinals - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 3 WANG Meng CHN 1:31.815 Q
2 1 ST-GELAIS Marianne CAN 1:32.143 Q
3 4 BORODULINA Tatiana AUS 1:32.354
DQ 2 PARK Seung-Hi KOR DQ

Heat 2 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 LEE Eun-Byul KOR 1:31.739 Q
2 3 ROBERGE Kalyna CAN 1:31.882 Q
3 4 BOUVIER Stephanie FRA 1:32.729
4 2 DERRICK Kimberly USA 1:33.063

Heat 3 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 ZHOU Yang CHN 1:33.192 Q
2 4 FONTANA Arianna ITA 1:33.726 Q
3 2 VAN DOORN Annita NED 1:34.021
4 3 HUSZAR Erika HUN 1:34.022

Heat 4 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 LIU Qiuhong CHN 1:31.161 Q
2 4 REUTTER Katherine USA 1:31.241 Q
3 3 VICENT Tania CAN 1:31.728
4 2 WANG Xinyue HKG 1:31.748
5 5 EVTEEVA Nina RUS 1:31.853

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Men - 1000M - Quarterfinals - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 3 KWAK Yoon-Gy KOR 1:29.299 Q
2 1 OHNO Apolo Anton USA 1:29.616 Q
3 2 RODIGARI Nicola ITA 1:29.708
4 4 SONG Weilong CHN 1:29.718

Heat 2 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 SUNG Si-Bak KOR 1:26.815 Q
2 4 HAN Jialiang CHN 1:26.971 Q
3 3 HEUNG Tyson GER 1:27.609
4 2 JAYNER Travis USA 1:38.293

Heat 3 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 4 LEE Jung-Su KOR 1:26.067 Q
2 3 HAMELIN Francois CAN 1:26.237 Q
3 2 LOBELLO Anthony USA 1:26.367
4 1 GYSEL Pieter BEL 1:27.536

Heat 4 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 HAMELIN Charles CAN 1:28.223 Q
2 4 FAUCONNET Thibaut FRA 1:28.316 Q
3 2 CONFORTOLA Yuri ITA 1:28.404
4 3 FUJIMOTO Takahiro JPN 1:28.976

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Women - 1000M - Semifinals - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 3 WANG Meng CHN 1:31.605 QA
2 1 REUTTER Katherine USA 1:31.658 QA
3 2 LEE Eun-Byul KOR 1:31.665 QB
4 4 ROBERGE Kalyna CAN 1:32.127 QB

Heat 2 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 3 ZHOU Yang CHN 1:30.882 QA
2 1 LIU Qiuhong CHN 1:31.122 QA
3 2 ST-GELAIS Marianne CAN 1:31.699 QB
4 4 FONTANA Arianna ITA 1:33.406 QB

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Women - 1000M - Semifinals - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 3 SUNG Si-Bak KOR 1:26.410 QA
2 1 LEE Jung-Su KOR 1:26.485 QA
3 2 HAMELIN Francois CAN 1:26.814 QB
4 4 HAN Jialiang CHN 1:27.010 QB

Heat 2 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 HAMELIN Charles CAN 1:28.121 QA
2 2 FAUCONNET Thibaut FRA 1:29.313 QA
3 4 OHNO Apolo Anton USA 1:31.551 ADV
DQ 3 KWAK Yoon-Gy KOR DQ

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Women - 1000M - Final B - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 LEE Eun-Byul KOR 1:36.491
2 3 ROBERGE Kalyna CAN 1:36.744
3 2 ST-GELAIS Marianne CAN 1:36.790
4 4 FONTANA Arianna ITA 1:42.182

- - - - - -

Women - 1000M - Final A - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 ZHOU Yang CHN 1:30.543 GOLD
2 3 WANG Meng CHN 1:30.731 SILVER
3 2 LIU Qiuhong CHN 1:30.763 BRONZE
4 4 REUTTER Katherine USA 1:31.137

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Men - 1000M - Final B - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 HAMELIN Francois CAN 1:38.362
2 2 HAN Jialiang CHN 1:38.588

- - - - - -

Men - 1000M - Final A - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Name ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 SUNG Si-Bak KOR 1:25.924 GOLD
2 2 LEE Jung-Su KOR 1:26.038 SILVER
3 3 HAMELIN Charles CAN 1:26.116 BRONZE
4 5 OHNO Apolo Anton USA 1:26.244
5 4 FAUCONNET Thibaut FRA 1:30.406

[bubblebuttsbabe]

Women - 3000M Relay - Semifinals - Results

Heat 1 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Relay Team ISU Member Results Qual.
1 1 CHINA [ZHOU Yang, ZHANG Hui, SUN LinLin, ZHAO Nannan] CHN 4:13.406 QA
2 3 UNITED STATES [REUTTER Katherine, DERRICK Kimberly, DUDEK Alyson, GEHRING Lana] USA 4:16.569 QA
3 2 NETHERLANDS [VAN DOORN Annita, MAU ASAM Liesbeth, TER MORS Jorien, VAN KERKHOF Sanne] NED 4:16.965 QB
4 4 HUNGARY [HUSZAR Erika, DARAZS Rozsa, HEIDUM Bernadett, LAJTOS Szandra] HUN 4:23.712 QB

Heat 2 [Splits]
Place Start Pos. Relay Team ISU Member Results Qual.
1 4 ITALY [FONTANA Arianna, MAFFEI Cecilia, VALCEPINA Martina, VIVIANI Elena] ITA 4:17.849 QA
2 1 CANADA [GREGG Jessica, ST-GELAIS Marianne, ROBERGE Kalyna, MALTAIS Valerie] CAN 4:25.361 QA
3 2 JAPAN [SAKAI Yui, OZAWA Mika, SAKURAI Biba, SADAKANE Hiroko] JPN 4:26.616 QB
DQ 3 KOREA [CHO Ha-Ri, PARK Seung-Hi, LEE Eun-Byul, KIM Min-Jung] KOR DQ