11.02 On Day 3 of Sochi, Canada Streaks Ahead on Ice and Snow

ROSA KHUTOR, Russia, February 11 (R-Sport) – On Sochi’s Black Sea coast and up in the Caucasus mountains, Monday was Canada’s day at the Winter Olympics, as two of its biggest winter sports stars snatched gold.

At the Olympic Park’s Adler Arena, it was short-track speedskater Charles Hamelin who was the hero in the 1,500 meters, while moguls skiers Alexandre Bilodeau and Mikael Kingsbury cemented their dominance of moguls skiing with a 1-2 finish.

It all sends Canada to the top of the medals standings, with a special mention for Quebec. Athletes from the French-speaking province brought Canada all of its three medals Monday, and were it independent, Quebec would now be second in the medal table.

"It's pretty crazy," said Mikael Kingsbury, who took silver in the moguls behind Bilodeau. "We’re all going there to win the most medals. We’re a strong country. We’re ready, I think, more than ever."

"I’m very happy to be here and to be Canadian and to help Canada to achieve, to be first with all the gold medals."

The other nation with much to shout about Monday was the Netherlands, sweeping a speedskating podium for the second time in three days. Twins Michel and Ronald Mulder of the Netherlands took gold and bronze in the men’s 500 meters, with only their countryman Jan Smeekins in between.

Elsewhere, there were few major shocks as star names sealed their place in history. German skier Maria Hoefl-Riesch was already regarded as one of the best-ever all-round skiers, but retaining Olympic super combined gold cements that reputation, especially as she finished above fellow jack-of-all-trades Tina Maze, who could only manage fourth.