The youngest member on Canada’s Olympic cross-country ski team, Olivier Léveillé, battled to a 29th-place finish at the Beijing Olympics on Friday.
The 20-year-old from Sherbrooke, Que. found his groove while steadily working his way around the 15-kilomtetre course to finish in the elite group of 30 with a time of 40:52.0.
“It is always hard to ski at altitude, but I felt good today,” said Léveillé. “Sometimes you feel like you are stuck in a gear, but I felt like I was stuck in a good gear today.”
Struggling with pace on a punishing skiathlon course in the Olympic opener earlier in the week, Rémi Drolet, of Rossland, B.C., bounced back and was Canada’s next best finisher in 33rd spot with a time of 41:07.7.
“It was definitely an improvement from my last race. I don’t know that I felt a whole lot better. I think I am combating a decent amount of fatigue right now and I’m battling to get over it,” said Drolet. “But I think being able to race my own race and not having to fight to stay with the pack I didn’t blow up. I’m not satisfied with how I skied but my execution was good.”
The nation’s top men’s skier heading into Beijing, Antoine Cyr (Gatineau, Que.), struggled to find his groove. The 23-year-old was left wanting more following a 37th place on Friday, completing the course in a time of 41:17.7.
