Two Golds For BC at Canada Winter Games

Halifax, NS (February 14, 2011) — Team BC’s medal count Monday at the 2011 Canada Winter Games was enhanced with two speed skating Gold medals, one on the long track and one on the short track.

The first one came at the Canada Games Oval where Tori Spence (Kamloops) clocked in at 4:46.70 in the 3000m to take top spot. It was a convincing win for Spence who set a new personal best on an outdoor oval when she skated across the finish line eight seconds ahead of the next skater..  The medal ceremony became a family affair when sister Josie won the Bronze medal with a time of 4:55.01.

“I’m super proud. I think I’m mostly just excited about being on the podium with my sister,” said Tori. “It’s a ‘Spence Sandwich!’”

Josie echoed her sister’s sentiments saying, “I really wanted to be on the podium with my sister so I’m glad that happened.  I can’t describe how happy I am.”

Later in the day Courtney Shmyr (Langley) doubled the Gold count for BC by winning the short track 500m event.  “I love this distance,” she said.  “Everything went as planned, and winning the Gold for my province was for sure the achievement I wanted.”  All of the female short track skaters placed in the top 15 for the second straight day.

In Artistic Gymnastics BC’s men achieved a Silver medal in the Team event, matching the Silver won by the women a day earlier.  The men finished with a high score of 304, just 0.6 points behind the winning Team Quebec.

Team Brown [Corryn Brown (Kamloops), Samantha Fisher (Kamloops), Sydney Fraser (Kamloops), Erin Pincott (Kamloops )]  remain undefeated at the Mayflower Curling Club through three games in Pool A .

Team BC has brought a dedicated team of 242 athletes, 74 coaches, three National Artists and 22 mission staff to the Games in Halifax. Approximately 2,700 athletes, coaches, managers and officials have come to the Games from every province and territory in Canada.

The Canada Games is a national multi-sport Games competition that brings together the best athletes from each Canadian province and territory. The primary objective of the Games and the Games movement is national and provincial sport development of Canadian youth.

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Photos to accompany this press release can be downloaded at www.teambc.org/photos

Media Contact:
Jan Mansfield
Team BC Communications Manager
januscom@shaw.ca; 902-719-8093