Canada Fails in Bid to "Own the Podium"
The leader of the Canadian Olympic Committee says Canada won't finish first in the medal count at the Vancouver Games, acknowledging it's unrealistic to catch the Americans.
Heading into Monday's competition, Canada is tied for fourth in the medal standings with nine overall. The Americans lead with 24.
Chris Rudge says Canada had hoped to win more than one medal Sunday.
Special Section: Vancouver Olympics
Canada has spent $117 million in the last five years on its Own The Podium program, a blueprint to finish atop the medal standings at the games.
Monday Olympics Roundup:
-A lot of beer got watered down with Canadian tears after the host countyr's men's Olympic hockey team lost 5-3 to the arch-rival Americans. The loss last night killed the party in downtown Vancouver where tens of thousands of Canadian flag waving - and wearing - fans gathered in front of two giant TV screens to cheer on Team Canada.
The streets emptied quickly after the game, the mood mostly somber but for a few angry fans chanting anti-U.S. slogans or jeering Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur.
Team Canada's next game is against Germany.
-Canada's men's hockey team will practice today after last night's stinging 5-3 loss to the U.S. There are questions about who will start in goal tomorrow in the qualification game against Germany after Martin Brodeur's shaky start against the Americans. A win tomorrow would set up a quarterfinal against Russia on Wednesday.
-It's semifinal day in women's hockey. First, the U.S. will look to avoid a repeat of their upset in 2006 when they face Sweden. Later, Canada faces Finland, coming off a preliminary round where they outscored their opponents 41-2.
-Kevin Martin has improved to 8-and-0 in men's curling with a nine-end 7-2 win over the U-S. Martin's already cinched top seed in the semifinals. Later, Cheryl Bernard takes on Sweden's Annette Norberg in a key women's matchup. Both rinks are 5-and-1 and look to solidify their shots at medal round berths.
-Olympic gold is in the sights of Canadian ice dance champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. They lead the way heading into tonight's climactic free dance. If they win, they would be the youngest Olympic ice dance champions ever.
-Canadian Olympic officials say figure-skater Joannie Rochette is going to compete in tomorrow's short program despite the death of her mother.
The 24-year-old from Ile-Dupas, Quebec dabbed away tears and acknowledged her broken-hearted father in the stands as she went ahead with her practice yesterday.
Just hours earlier, Rochette's 55-year-old mother Therese died at a Vancouver hospital, apparently from a heart attack.
Skate Canada chief executive William Thompson says he believes sticking with the competition will help Rochette cope with her terrible loss.