Canada claims first-ever Olympic gold medal in doubles curling

fifth in 3:05.878 at her second Olympics, while Brooke Apshkrum, also of Calgary, was 13th in 3:07.102 at the 18-year-old’s first Games.

The awarding of the bronze medal to Boutin, of Sherbrooke, Que., capped what began as a disappointing day for the Canadian team.

Veteran short track speed skater Marianne St-Gelais, competing in her final Games, failed to make it out of the quarter-finals after receiving a penalty for impeding. She made contact with Yara Van Kerkhof of the Netherlands while jockeying for position.

The Canadian was also penalized for a false start, which surprised her.

“It’s disappointing for sure because I don’t think I deserve this call,” St-Gelais said. “But short track is short track, so sometimes you have to deal with what is happening.

“I’m not happy with the decision. I don’t think I deserved it.”

The 27-year-old from Saint-Felicien, Que., was a medal threat for the Canadians after winning silver in the distance at last year’s world championships.

St-Gelais also took silver in the 500 during the 2010 Vancouver Games and earned silver in the 3,000-metre relay in each of the previous two Olympics.

St-Gelais will compete in the 3,000-metre race Feb. 20 with Boutin, Fort St. James product Jamie MacDonald and Kasandra Bradette.

“I have to focus on the other (races) if I want to make it count,” said St-Gelais. “We still have the relay. I’m lucky I got to race the three distances, so I have another chance.”