Denny Morrison Website

By George Johnson, Calgary Herald January 12, 2010

Members of the Canadian Olympic Speed Skating team waited to be officially announced at Calgary's Olympic Oval on January 11, 2010. Photograph by: Colleen De Neve, Calgary Herald

CALGARY — After contributing one-third of the medals claimed by Canada in Turin, the Olympic glare will be squarely on the long-track speed skating team 31 days from now in Richmond, B.C.

Speed Skating Canada unveiled its 16-skater Winter Games roster at a media conference Monday at the Olympic Oval, and is, arguably, even better than the one from Italy four years ago which took home eight of Canada’s 24 medals overall.

It’s a group populated by defending Olympic gold medallists (Clara Hughes, 5,000), current World Cup points leaders (Christine Nesbitt, 1,000; Kristina Groves, 1,500) and multiple world-record holders. By maturing stars (Denny Morrison, double-medal winner at the world single distance championships). By rising talents (Jamie Gregg, Lucas Makowsky, Kyle Parrott, Brittany Schussler). By young blood (Anastasia Bucsis, Tamara Oudenaadren). And by decorated veterans returning from injury (Cindy Klassen, Jeremy Wotherspoon) determined to pen a golden fade-out to their Olympic careers.

The only unknown in the team following the recent Olympic trials concerned the women’s 5,000 metres. Due to illness, Schussler had been forced out of the event and she subsequently put in a bye, meaning that a decision would have to be made between her and Cindy Klassen, the second and final qualifier on the day. Initially, a resolution to the dilemma seemed to be set for the Continental at the Oval, Canada’s last international tune-up before the Games, on Jan. 23-24.

Schussler has since decided to rescind her request, leaving Klassen — Canada’s most decorated Winter Olympian with a five-medal haul in Italy four years ago — to join Groves and Hughes, a four-time Olympic medalist, at the distance.

“We have a very strong, deep group that we believe in,” said Speed Skating Canada high-performance director Brian Rahill. “We’ve enjoyed good results this year, and the focus of the team has been exemplary.”

Ottawa’s Groves is set to race in a team-high five events — the women’s 1,000, 1,500, 3,000, 5,000 and team pursuit. Morrison and Nesbitt will compete in four.

Canadian Long-Track Speed Skating Team

Women

500 metres: Anastasia Bucsis, Calgary; Tamara Oudenaarden, St. Albert, Alta.; Shannon Rempel, Winnipeg.

1,000 metres: Kristina Groves, Ottawa; Christine Nesbitt, London, Ont.; Shannon Rempel; Brittany Schussler, Winnipeg.

1,500 metres: Kristina Groves; Cindy Klassen, Winnipeg; Brittany Schussler.

3,000 metres: Clara Hughes, Glenn Sutton, Que.; Kristina Groves, Cindy Klassen

5,000 metres: Clara Hughes, Kristina Groves, Cindy Klassen.

Team Pursuit: Kristina Groves, Brittany Schussler, Christine Nesbitt.

Men

500 metres: Mike Ireland, Winnipeg; Jamie Gregg, Edmonton; Kyle Parrott, Minnedosa, Man.; Jeremy Wotherspoon, Red Deer, Alta.

1,000 metres: Kyle Parrott; Jeremy Wotherspoon; Denny Morrison, Fort St. John, B.C.; Francois-Olivier Roberge, St. Nicolas, Que.

1,500 metres: Mathieu Giroux, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que.; Lucas Makowsky, Regina; Kyle Parrott; Denny Morrison.

5,000: Lucas Makowsky; Denny Morrison.

Team Pursuit: Mathieu Giroux, Lucas Makowsky, Denny Morrison.

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