KEARNS — If anyone objects to uniting Canadian speedskater Catriona Le May Doan with the ladies' 500-meter gold medal in these Olympic Games, let them skate now or forever hold their peace.
It's only logical to marry the two.
Le May Doan first found gold in the 500 in the 1998 Nagano Games. She holds the world record at 37.22 seconds, clocked at the Calgary Olympic Oval, and she's ranked number one in World Cup standings in the 500.
But the Germans love gold as much as they adore world records. They own top marks in four of five women's distances — three of those records were set at the Utah Olympic Oval. Former Olympian Sabine Voelker and three-time Olympian Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt could turn Canada into the jilted contender.
The two-day event begins today and spills over into Thursday, after which the combined times from two races will decide who goes home with medals. Competition begins at 5 p.m. both days.
The United States is offering Elli Ochowicz, Amy Sannes, Becky Sundstrom and Chris Witty in the 500. None of them has logged a personal best below 38.3 seconds — Witty was the closest, but she'll have to skate through the ill effects of mononucleosis. But home ice and a supportive crowd could be a factor in their favor.
Russian skater and two-time Olympian Svetlana Zhurova finished third in the 500 World Cup standings and has a personal best 37.55. Japan and the Netherlands are also threats to win away the gold from Canada.
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com
