Olympics Overnight: Canada claims first medal with bronze in speedskating, Kingsbury settles for silver in men’s moguls

Rise and shine, Olympics fans. Here’s what you missed overnight and need to know about the 2022 Beijing Olympics this morning.

For all the Star-related Winter Games content, visit our Olympics page here.

Well, that didn’t take long.

Canada already has its first medal of the Winter Games: a bronze in the women’s 3,000-metre speedskating event. Isabelle Weidemann from Ottawa finished with a time of three minutes 58.64 seconds at the Ice Ribbon oval to stand third on the podium.

Canadian Mikaël Kingsbury (who won gold in 2018 and silver in 2014) claimed his third Olympic medal — and Canada’s second for these games — with a silver in men’s moguls. Elsewhere, the Canadian women dominated Finland in hockey to go 2-0 at the tournament, while John Morris and Rachel Homan fell to 3-2 with a 6-2 loss to Sweden in mixed curling.

Here’s what you missed overnight:

Boltin’ for Bronze

It’s been 12 years, but Canada has finally reclaimed a spot on the podium in women’s long-track speedskating.

Isabelle Weidemann, 26, is taking home a bronze in the 3,000 metres, the first medal in the event since the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Irene Schouten of the Netherlands took home the gold while Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida finished second for silver.

“I’m pretty overwhelmed. I was very nervous today, but was so pleased how the race went and to bring home a medal … I was shaky at the start and by four laps in I could feel the fight,” Weidemann told The Canadian Press.

Weidemann, who finished seventh in the 3,000 in 2018 in Pyeongchang, also has a shot at the podium in the 5,000-metre event.

Kingsbury upset

Canada will have wait a little longer for its first gold but Mikaël Kingsbury still has plenty to celebrate. The 29-year-old moguls skier from Quebec claimed his third Olympic medal with a silver in the men’s moguls with a score of 82.18, while Sweden’s Walter Wallberg takes men’s moguls gold with a score of 83.23.

Double-triple and a double-double

It was laugher for Canada in the women’s hockey group stages with a dominating 11-1 win over Finland.

Yeah, they weren’t holding back. The offensive onslaught included hat tricks from Canada’s Sarah Nurse and Brianne Jenner, while Sarah Fillier and Laura Stacey each scored twice.

The Canadian women are now 2-0 so far in the tournament, winning by a combined score or 23-2. They take on the Russians next on Monday and rivals Americans on Tuesday.

Loss for curlers

In mixed curling, the Canadian team of John Morris and Rachel Homan fell to 3-2 with a 6-2 loss to Sweden in round robin play. They face the Americans later Saturday.

Their matchup against the Australians on Sunday, however, will be an interesting affair. Morris had coached the Australian duo of Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt in Alberta in the fall, but once Morris was named to the Canadian mixed doubles team with Homan, he had to go from teacher to competitor.

The Australians will be put to the test Sunday night.

Other Canadian results:

What to watch for:

The Star in Beijing:

Bruce Arthur: In a pretend opening ceremony at a divisive Olympic Games, China flexes. And hard

Rosie DiManno: Courtney Sarault isn’t from Quebec. She’s still a short-track medal contender

Dave Feschuk: Women keep pushing for parity in ski jumping. It’s been a tough hill to climb

Canadian fits get WeChat buzzing

It seems it could be paying off for Lululemon — who took on Canada’s Olympic outfit duties for the first time — after the opening ceremonies. WeChat, the Chinese social media and instant messaging app, showed a huge spike in search traffic for “Lululemon” after Canada’s appearance.

Finally reunited

There was love in the air for two Canadians at Friday’s opening ceremony. Hockey player Blayre Turnbull and bobsledder Ryan Sommer were apart for three months before they were finally able to reunite in Beijing ahead of the opening ceremony.

Jamaicans bust a move

The Jamaican bobsledding team were keeping the vibes “chill” in Beijing on the first day of the Games. They’re clearly very hyped — and it’s getting us hyped too.

Shirtless Samoan

Would it be an Olympics opening ceremony without another shirtless flag-bearer? American Samoa’s Nathan Crumpton braved the cold in this traditional Polyonesian outfit.

Dutch reporter dragged off camera

A Dutch reporter with broadcaster NOS was pulled off camera by Olympic security as he was doing a live report. The tweet, in Dutch, says he is fine and was able to finish his report a few minutes later.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

With files from the Canadian Press