Canada strikes team luge silver at World Cup

IGLS, AUSTRIA Alex Gough put the Canadian luge team on her shoulders and led them to a silver medal on Sunday in a World Cup team relay event.

Finishing a shade off the podium in Saturday’s women’s singles race despite a strong effort, Calgary’s Gough was a rock in the relay, propelling the Canadian squad of Mitchel Malyk (Calgary) along with doubles sled of Tristan Walker (Cochrane, Alta.) and Justin Snith (Calgary) to a silver-medal time of 2:11.025.

“I just wanted to have fun today, and think of the enjoyment I have sliding,” Gough said.

“The goal was to have a great start and good runs. I was able to do that, so I’m really happy we were able to finish on the podium.

“This will be a good confidence booster for our team.”

Starting in ninth position, the Canadians took advantage of snowy conditions and a frosty track to post an early time for the rest of the world to chase.

The Germans slid to the gold medal with a time of 2:10.667. Russia locked up the bronze behind Canada at 2:11.044.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Kim Boutin won silver and Samuel Girard earned a bronze in the 1,000 metres on Sunday to conclude the final stage of the ISU World Cup short-track speedskating season.

Boutin, from Sherbrooke, Que, finished behind South Korea’s Min Jeong Choi.

It was Boutin’s second medal of the weekend, after she earned bronze in Saturday’s 1,500 metres.

It was also her seventh podium finish this World Cup season in individual events, her third in the 1,000 metres.

“It’s a nice way to finish up before the Olympic Games,” she said.

Girard, from Ferland-et-Boilleau, Que., came up with the bronze medal ahead of China’s Dajing Wu. It was Girard’s third medal this season.