SOCHI, Russia — Canadian short-track speedskater Charles Hamelin will not have a shot at a medal in the 1,000-metre event at the Sochi Olympics after falling in the quarterfinals.
The Sainte-Julie, Que., native won gold in the 1,500 metres earlier in the Games and had been touted as a medal contender in his remaining three events — the 5,000-metre relay, the 1,000 metres and the 500 metres.
But the Canadian team failed to advance in the relay and now the 1,000-metre podium is out of reach. He’s the defending champion in the 500 metres, his best individual event.
Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que., and Charle Cournoyer of Boucherville, Que., also failed to advance out of the quarter-finals in the 1,000.
On the women’s side, Canadians Marie-Eve Drolet and Valerie Maltais qualified for the quarter-finals in the 1,500 metres.
Drolet, from Chicoutimi, Que., placed second in the first qualifying heat in two minutes 24.859 seconds, while Maltais, from La Baie, Que., was second in the third heat in 2:27.721.
Marianne St-Gelais of Saint-Felicien, Que., placed fourth in her heat and failed to advance. It’s her second disappointing day of the Games after not advancing in the 500 metres earlier in the week.
