Saturday, December 15, 2001
Sledder cannot slip up
By ANDREW SMITH -- Calgary Sun
Never has a bobsled race in Calgary taken on such importance.
Well, maybe the 1988 Olympic races were important. But for the Canadian women's bobsled team, this weekend is the crescendo to what's been a long development process.
With Canadian bobsled driver Christina Smith already qualified for the Salt Lake Olympics, the focus of this weekend's races at Canada Olympic Park turned to Christine Fraser, who needs one top-six finish to book her Olympic odyssey.
"We've been pushing for this for 11 years and only the top-15 sleds get to go, so that means all eyes are on us," said Fraser. "I'm pretty confident but there's a little anticipation."
The big concern for the team as a whole is getting two sleds into the Games.
Fraser says in the past qualifying wouldn't have been a problem but the recent influx of quality athletes in the sport means competition is getting tougher. "The rest of the field has really stepped up," said Fraser.
To help her and the Canadian team, Fraser secured the services of the athlete considered to be Canada's top brakeman, Paula McKenzie. And she'll be driving the Canada 1 sled, meaning a better start position.
Smith drops to Canada 2. Her brakeman, Lesa Stringer, is out after tweaking her hamstring, weakening the sled's push start.
Filling in for Stringer is Suzanne Gavine-Hlady, who aside from helping Smith rebound from some recent misfortune, will be trying to better her chances at a date in Salt Lake City.
"I'm in very capable hands with Suzanne," said Smith.
Gavine-Hlady, youngest of the group at 26, was with the team in its previous stop at Igls, Austria, but didn't race very much. She's looking to achieve the required brakeman status for the Olympics so Canada has all options at their disposal come February.
To say the pressure is squarely on Fraser is a bit of an understatement, considering today and tomorrow's races represent the last chance for her get that elusive top-six placing.
Fraser wants it, as does McKenzie and all of Team Canada. If she makes it, Smith says the benefits will be beyond their expectations.
"Well, I can say there will be a lot of repercussions if we don't (have two sleds at Salt Lake)," said Smith.
"Two teams means more funding, which will improve the program. We don't want to limit top performances. Having two teams will support and empower you.
"There is strength in numbers."
Heading into the weekend's races, the only number that really matters is six and up because anything below that could mean bad news all around.
Racing begins at the Olympic track today and tomorrow at 9 a.m.
2002 Games Bobsled Coverage
