JUST INCREDIBLE
Summerland native Kripps, partner Alex Kopacz tie Germans for bobsled gold
History repeated itself for Canada in the twoman bobsled event at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, as Canadian Justin Kripps tied Germany’s Francesco Friedrich for gold Monday.
Kripps, a native of Summerland, and brakeman Alex Kopacz of London, Ont., slid to a combined four-run time of three minutes, 16.86 seconds.
“When I crossed that line, and I managed to actually see the clock that said No. 1— it’s pretty tough to see when you’re ripping up the braking stretch—but just so excited and everybody started mobbing into the track,” Kripps said.
“I saw the Germans and they were super excited, too. I was like, ‘Man, that’s nice. They’re really excited that we won.’ We’re all good friends. Once the mob kind of dispersed a little bit Thorsten was giving me a hug, he was in my ear and he was like, ‘It was three hundredths and two and then we tied.’ I was like, ‘We tied?’ It’s insane. Amazing.”
Kripps joins Pierre Lueders, who took gold at the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan – also in a tie – as the only Canadians to top an Olympic podium in two-man.
Lueders also won two-man silver at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, for the country’s other medal in the discipline.
Kripps, 31, was born in Naalehu, Hawii, to parents who worked for UNICEF. He relocated to Summerland as a young boy and starred in track and field.
You could feel a certain energy and excitement everywhere you went in Summerland on Monday morning ... and it wasn’t the annual Christmas light-up.
Hometown hero Justin Kripps was king of the world, an Olympic gold medalist in two-man bobsled.
Unfortunately, with the time zone difference from South Korea, many were asleep when the event was televised live. But word travels fast in Summerland, with or without the internet.
“This is hugely exciting, a huge deal to see little, old Summerland mentioned in the international media,” said Toni Boot, a town councillor.
“Justin is a great ambassador for Summerland. He’s a quiet part of our community because he’s always been so committed to his training. We had (skier) Kristi Richards, who is wonderful, but I think this is the first time we’ve ever had someone from Summerland win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics.”
Tom Brickenden, a teacher at Summerland Secondary School, coached Kripps in track as a co-coach with Kripps’ mother.
Young Justin excelled in sprinting, making the B.C. final in his Grade 12 year in the 100-meter sprint.
“Justin was always a kid who everybody liked. He was quiet, but very determined,” Brickenden said. “He had great composure. He was committed to the team, to the fundraising to be on the team, and to his training.”
Brickenden first took notice of Kripps when he was in elementary school.
He glanced over at the playground at the old Macdonald Elementary School, located behind the high school, and the youngster was playing street basketball.
“Here’s this kid with long, blonde hair in a pony tail, so smooth, playing with his friends. He might have been in Grade 6. I thought at the time, ‘that boy has potential.’”
Kripps was injured in the 100meter final in his graduating year, but would recover and go on to land on Simon Fraser University’s 4x100-meter relay team which earned AllAmerican honours and set a school record, which still stands today.
Principal Alan Stel said students were well aware Monday that a graduate of their school had just won a gold medal. Teachers who were there during his high school years were equally excited.
“I am so proud of his efforts. He has worked diligently, initially in track and field, and then in the bobsled. This year a world champion and Olympic gold medalist,” said SSS science teacher Raja Gupta.
A town celebration, pending Kripps’ availability, is planned in the immediate future.
On behalf of the entire Okanagan Valley, congratulations Justin.