Canada’s first Olympic weekend brings podium finishes, heartbreak and homework

From podium finishes to photo-finish heartbreak — and yes, even homework at the Olympics. Team Canada’s first weekend in Milano-Cortina had a little bit of everything.

Saturday’s biggest highlight came on the speed skating oval. Team Canada now has one medal, a bronze, thanks to Valerie Maltais.

Valerie Maltais skated to bronze in the women’s 3,000 metres, Canada’s first medal of the games.

“It’s so much satisfaction, and I’m just so proud to just believe, like I trusted my gut that I had something in me and I could achieve that podium,” Maltais said.

On the ice, Canada’s women’s hockey team shut out Switzerland 4-0.

In Predazzo, it was a tough day for Canada. Abigail Strate and Nicole Maurer missed the podium in women’s normal hill ski jumping.

READ MORE: Speedskater brings home Canada’s first medal at Winter Olympics

Off the field of play, one Canadian moment went viral. Figure skater Madeline Schizas from Oakville asked her McMaster professor for an assignment extension while at the Olympics. A slice of everyday life — even on the world’s biggest stage.

Also from Oakville, snowboarder Kaylie Buck is competing in her second Olympics after exiting the women’s parallel giant slalom quarterfinals.

“I was really proud of my riding today. I mean this was a long course for us so it’s really fun to show your best turns and some minor mistakes. I think but maybe if those didn’t happen it would’ve gone the other way, but I was still overall really happy with my day,” said Buck.

In mixed doubles curling, Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant lost 7-6 to Sweden and 9-5 to South Korea, their fifth straight loss.

From a first medal to razor-thin losses, Canada’s Olympic story is underway, with the Milano-Cortina Games running through February 22nd.

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