Following Canadian Women Speed Skaters to Vancouver

CTVOlympics.ca
February 18, 2010

Nesbitt is golden

Canada has struck gold.

Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., claimed Canada's first long track speed skating gold medal, finishing first in the ladies 1,000-meters at the Richmond Oval.

Annette Gerritsen of the Netherlands took home the silver medal, while Laurine Van Riessn of the Netherlands won the bronze.

Nesbitt was the overwhelming favourite in the distance, skating to a time of one minute 16.56 seconds.

She took the 1,000m title in all four World Cup competitions this season by an average of more than .50 in each race.The 24-year-old is also the defending world champion, a title she won at the Richmond Oval in March.

Nesbitt raced in the 500-meters on Tuesday, producing one of her best ever times in that distance, finishing in 10th place.

Ottawa's Kristina Groves just missed out on a medal, placing 4th in 1:16.78.

Shannon Rempel and Brittany Schussler, both from Winnipeg, placed 21st (1:18.174) and 25th (1:18.31) respectivly.

Groves has not been on the podium this season in the 1,000m, her best being a fourth in Calgary, but took home a bronze in the women's 3,000-metres on Sunday.