August 9, 2004

Divers, wrestlers, paddlers, rowers best hope

By DONNA SPENCER


(CP) - The road to the Olympic podium looks to cross water for Canada in Athens. Other routes include the track, wrestling mat and trampoline.

With the exception of the 1992 Games in Barcelona, where Canada won seven gold, and the boycotted Games in Los Angeles in 1984, when Canada won 10, the number of gold medals the country has won at each Summer Games can be counted on four fingers or less.

But hope springs eternal in Athens.

Some of Canada's divers, track and field athletes, wrestlers, trampolinists, triathletes, rowers and paddlers are among the best in the world.

And there's potential for adding silver and bronze medals in sports such as judo, gymnastics, cycling, mountain biking, taekwondo, baseball and women's water polo.

"I believe we'll win more than the 14 we won in Sydney," Canadian chef de mission Dave Bedford says of Canada's medal chances in Athens.

But Bedford wouldn't go out on a limb with any predictions of who will win what.

"If we knew what the results were going to be we wouldn't actually play the Games, we'd just mail out the medals," he said. "The expected isn't the big story. That's why we watch, because we don't know what's going to happen."

Here's a look at Canada's medal hopefuls at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens:

PODIUM BOUND

Perdita Felicien, track and field: Felicien ran the fastest 100-metre hurdles in the world this year. Gold will come down to between her and American Gail Devers.

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Alexandre Despatie, diving: World champion is Canada's best shot at double gold on tower and springboard.

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Caroline Brunet, kayaking: Silver medallist at last two Olympics and a world champion multiple times. Good bet for gold.

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Karen Cockburn, trampoline: Defending world champion and a bronze medallist at the 2000 Olympics. Russians will be her rivals for gold.

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Men's eight, rowing: Winner of last two world championships. Crew is almost unchanged from last year. Widely picked to win.

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Christine Nordhagen, wrestling: Six-time world champion can continue Canada's tradition of making a splash in new sports. Strong shot at gold in 72-kilogram division.

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Simon Whitfield, triathlon: Canada's best chance at defending a gold medal from Sydney. Swim leg of race will be crucial. Whitfield won't surprise anyone this time.

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Men's four, rowing: Defending world champions Barney Williams, Jake Wetzel, Tom Herschmiller and Cam Baerg suffered a loss to the U.S. at the World Cup this year, but gold is still a strong possibility.

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Emilie Heymans, diving: World champion in women's platform. Gold if she is sharp.

MEDAL CONTENDERS

David Ford, whitewater kayaking: Silver medallist at last year's world championship as well as the overall 2003 World Cup title winner. Strong medal potential.

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Alison Sydor, mountain biking: One of the oldest athletes in her sport at 37, but 1996 silver medallist can't be counted out after finishing second at last year's worlds. Outside chance at gold.

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Kyle Shewfelt, gymnastics: World bronze medallist in both vault and floor. Coming off an ankle injury that was hampering him last month. Strong shot at podium in floor routine if he's healthy.

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Fiona Milne, Mara Jones, rowing: New lightweight doubles team beat world champion Germany in pre-Games regatta. Gold is within reach, but silver more realistic.

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Canadian men's lightweight four, rowing: Veterans Jon Beare, Jon Mandick, Iain Brambell and Gavin Hassett have an excellent chance at a podium finish behind favoured Italy.

IN THE MIX

Lyndsay Belisle, wrestling: Has twice finished top five in the world and also won the 2003 World Cup. A contender for bronze in the 48-kilogram class.

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Jill Savege, triathlon: Ranked fourth in the world. Strong in all three triathlon disciplines which suits a course that will expose weaknesses. Chance at bronze.

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Adam Van Koeverden, kayaking: Up-and-comer on the paddling team. Won a silver medal at last year's world championship.

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Baseball team: First appearance at Olympics since 1988. Japan and Cuba are two good bets for gold while Canada should have the edge over Greece and Taiwan for bronze.

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Lori-Anne Muenzer, track cycling: Bronze medallist in sprint at world championship. Decent shot at bronze.

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Blythe Hartley, diving: Had her best year in three-metre springboard. Bronze a possibility.

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Tonya Verbeek, wrestling: A consistent performer internationally for Canada. Bronze is realistic.

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Nicolas Gill, judo: Olympic silver in 2000, bronze in 1992. Coming off reconstructive knee surgery in November. Will be an achievement to stay on the podium.

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Dominique Bosshart, taekwondo: Bronze medallist in Sydney. Signature move is roundhouse kick to opponent's head. With advantageous draw, she can finish in the medals again.

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Dave Calder, Chris Jarvis, rowing Men's pair finished third in World Cup this year behind powerful Italy and Croatia. Bronze a possibility.

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Mark Boswell, track and field: High jumper won bronze at last year's world championship. Outside chance at bronze.

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Heather Ross-McManus, trampoline: Ranked fifth in the world and finished second to teammate Karen Cockburn at final World Cup prior to Olympics. Decent chance at podium finish.

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Men's 4x200-metre freestyle relay, swimming: Best hope for medal in the pool. The Australians and Americans will battle for the gold, leaving Canada to fend off Italy, Russia and France for third. Outside chance at bronze.

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Women's water polo team: - The Canadians are in by far the toughest pool, but if they can avoid finishing last in it and out of the playoffs, a bronze isn't out of the question.

reprinted with permission