12-27-2019, 06:48 AM
MONTREAL -- Reigning Olympic champion Alexandre Bilodeau and a trio of history-making sisters are headlining Canadas freestyle ski team roster for the Sochi Olympics. Bilodeau, from Montreal, won his third straight World Cup moguls event over the weekend, edging out teammate and rival Mikael Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que. Kingsbury and Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que., were also named to the early 20-athlete nomination list Monday by the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association. "I am ready to hit the slopes of Russia and show the world why Canada is a force to be reckoned with," Bilodeau said. "The Canadian Olympic freestyle team is totally focused. These Games belong to Canada." He acknowledged hell be going to Sochi feeling a little less pressure than he did in Vancouver four years ago. "In Vancouver, I showed up with a gun to my head," he said. "I wanted a medal. I put a lot of pressure on myself. Fortunately, I managed to pull myself together after working hard with my sports psychologist a week before the Games. Now, in Sochi, the work is done." Bilodeau said hes heading to Norway to tweak a few things and plans to enjoy the experience when he arrives in Russia. He has said Sochi will be his last Olympics and he admits theres a little wistfulness about that. "Im going to take every moment and remember it and I think there will be good moments, especially with the two gentlemen who will be accompanying me," he said, referring to Kingsbury and Gagnon. "Were going to have fun." The womens moguls team includes Montreal sisters Chloe, Justine and Maxime Dufour-Lapointe along with Audrey Robichaud of Quebec City. Chloe and Justine finished 1-2 over the weekend at a World Cup in Val St-Come, Que. Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut said its the first time in the world -- not just Canada -- where three siblings have competed on the same Olympic team in the same event. "I always hoped that I would be able to represent the nation by doing what I love," said Justine Dufour-Lapointe. "To be able to say that I am now doing that is a dream come true. I cant wait to represent Canada in Sochi." Eldest sister Maxime, who was the last to qualify, said she wasnt surprised at getting a berth. "Honestly, I never had a doubt," she said. "Its been my objective since May. That was clear. I planned the entire season -- travel, training, racing. I knew exactly what to expect and gave it my all. When it came time to race this season, I was ready. "All my attention has been on one thing -- my skiing," she added. "I really stuck to my plan because I knew it would work for me." Kingsbury, who is the main contender to Bilodeaus throne, and Gagnon admitted they were excited to pull on their team jackets. "For sure Im going there on a mission but at the same time I want to enjoy the moment," said Kingsbury. "Im not just there to win the gold medal. I want to have fun. I want to have the run of my life and I know that if I accomplish that, I have a chance to win the gold medal." Gagnon said he was relieved to see his work pay off. "Its been a lot of work for four years, a lot of stress, especially during the last two years," he said. "But I always believed in my chances and I continued to work. Here, after finally managing to qualify, its a big Yes! inside me." World champion Kaya Turski of Montreal and Dara Howell of Huntsville, Ont., headline the womens slopestyle team. Theyre joined by Quebec Citys Kim Lamarre and Yuki Tsubota of Whistler, B.C. Alex Beaulieu-Marchand of Quebec City will compete in mens slopestyle. Calgarys Roz Groenewoud anchors the womens halfpipe team. Shes joined by Megan Gunning of Calgary and Keltie Hansen of Edmonton. The mens halfpipe lineup includes Edmontons Mike Riddle, Matt Margetts of Penticton, B.C., and Justin Dorey and Noah Bowman, both of Calgary. World silver medallist Travis Gerritts of Milton, Ont., will be the lone competitor in mens aerials. The International Ski Federation (FIS) allocates up to 26 quota spots for each nation for all five freestyle disciplines. The remaining spots for the deep Canadian team are expected to be filled Jan. 27 when the skicross team is unveiled. The Sochi Games will be held Feb. 7-23. USWNT Jerseys 2021 .J. - Henrik Lundqvist has done more than set a couple of franchise records for the New York Rangers this week. USWNT Jerseys China . -- Jerel Worthy and his Michigan State teammates charged across the field, holding four fingers in the air while celebrating another sweet victory over their biggest rival. https://www.cheapuswnt.com/ . Phoenix got injured centre Emeka Okafor and a top-12-protected first-round draft pick in 2014 -- giving the rebuilding Suns potentially four choices in the opening round. The Suns also sent guards Kendall Marshall, Shannon Brown and Malcolm Lee to Washington so the deal will work financially. USWNT Store .C. Lions 35-14, was named the CFLs offensive player of the week Tuesday. Sheets recorded his ninth 100-yard rushing performance of the season to tie the Riders club record. Wholesale USWNT Jerseys . He had spent 16 days on the disabled list before being activated Thursday. He was batting just .203 when he came to bat in the 11th inning on Sunday.Kyle Edmunds hopes of taking a major scalp at the Shanghai Masters were firmly put in check by reigning US Open champion and third seed Stan Wawrinka. The 21-year-old, who booked his place in the second round with a hard-fought three-set win over Argentinas Federico Delbonis on Monday, went down 6-3 6-4.Britains Edmund reached the quarter-finals of the China Open last week where he was beaten by compatriot Andy Murray, and rose into the worlds top 50 as a result, but had to settle for words of praise from his conqueror as his days reward following defeat. Wawrinka, who upset world No 1 Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows to win his third Grand Slam title, claimed the only break of the opening set in the eighth game, and then looked set to steam through the second after striking first for a 2-0 lead.But Edmund made a fight of the contest by reeling off the next three games, bringing the set back on serve and showing the Swiss he would need to step up his game again.The 31-year-old rose to the challenge in the ninth game, and then fended off three break points in the next to seal victory with a sliced backhand winner into the corner. 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In other results, 11th-seeded Belgian David Goffin, who eliminated Juan Martin del Potro, defeated Benoit Paire, 6-1 7-6 (7-0) to reach the third round while Spains Marcel Granollers upset seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych, 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1).Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic beat Paolo Lorenzi from Italy, 6-2 6-4 and Frenchman Gilles Simon eased past Chinas Wu Di, 6-2 6-2.You can watch Liverpool v Manchester United, plus loads more Premier League football, Englands tour of Bangladesh and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Race is on for world No 1 Djokovic to regain dominance Latest scores Tennis on Sky ' ' '