In an upset, Bilodeau helps Canada own the podium and get 1st Olympic gold on home turf

Bilodeau brings home the gold to Canada

WEST VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Alexandre Bilodeau grabbed the Canadian flag and thrust it in the air, effortlessly lifting his country in the process.

All the training. All the money. All the pressure to deliver an Olympic gold rush on home soil.

With one frantic dash down Cypress Mountain on Sunday, Bilodeau owned more than the podium, he owned the moment, one that will forever be etched in Canadian history.

The 22-year-old from Montreal stunned defending Olympic champion Dale Begg-Smith in the men’s moguls finals, blistering the course in 23.17 seconds to post a score of 26.75 and win Canada’s first Olympic gold on home turf. Bryon Wilson of Butte, Mont., was third.

“It’s just the beginning,” Bilodeau said. “There will be more gold winning and I’ll be in the stands cheering for them.”

It’ll be hard to top the party on Cypress after Bilodeau stormed to victory, ending 34 years of Canadian frustration. Children cried. People hugged. Canadian flags sprouted everywhere, including halfway up the mountain by an Olympic volunteer.

It was all a little bit much to Bilodeau, who felt familiar jitters as he stood atop the hill for his final run.

“I was nervous but I was comfortable, probably the most comfortable I’ve ever been,” he said.

He looked it during his sprint to the finish, pulling off a back flip with two twists at the top then backing it up with a massive backflip on the second.

In between he careened off the moguls, barely holding on at times as he thrashed his way through the slush.

When his score popped up, he celebrated but didn’t overdo it. Instead he nervously waited for France’s Guilbaut Colas, who posted the top qualifying score and has a runner-up in the World Cup standings each of the last three years.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Bilodeau’s teammate and good friend Jenn Heil had been in the same chair hoping her score would stand with one skier left. American Hannah Kearney spoiled the party, throwing down a run for the ages to win gold.

Not this time. Colas limped home in sixth, turning Bilodeau into a national hero.

“I don’t think I realize what’s actually going on today and what’s happening to me right now,” Bilodeau said.

He’ll get his chance to soak it in on Monday when he accepts his gold during the medal ceremony with “O Canada” blaring over the speakers for the first time in a home games.

The Canadians failed to win gold during the Summer Games in Montreal in 1976 and the Winter Games in Calgary in 1988.

Determined to erase it’s oh-fer, the country initiated the “Own the Podium” initiative, an audacious effort to make its winter sports program the best in the world.

Canada invested $110 million to reach the top spot at Vancouver and now hopes Bilodeau’s breakthrough marks the start of a memorable two weeks that’s been decades in the making.

“It’s so big for Canada,” said Bilodeau’s coach, Dominick Gauthier. “Since the beginning and for Jenn yesterday, these games are all about Canada. Now the first gold is won. The media won’t talk about it anymore. It’s done.”

It wasn’t easy. Begg-Smith had been steadily improving since coming back from a knee injury suffered last January. When he carved a nearly flawless run down the hill to take first with three skiers remaining, the world champion who moved to Australia nearly a decade over following a dispute with Canadian officials appeared ready to play spoiler.

Bilodeau didn’t let it happen. Drawing inspiration from his crowd and his older brother Frederic, who suffers from cerebral palsey, Bilodeau put down the run of a lifetime.

“Even if it’s raining, I’ll take it, I’ll go train,” Bilodeau said. “He doesn’t have that chance and he’s having a smile every morning he wakes up.”

So was Begg-Smith, who moved to Australia so he could devote more time to his internet business. The move helped his skiing as well. He’s been a dominant force in the sport for years even as he keeps the media at a distance.

He was rushed into the interview room shortly after the flower ceremony, only to sit quietly in a corner until the Australian media entered the room. He popped to his feet when Bilodeau made his way to the stage, and was respectful while answering the few questions that came his way.

“I think it was great that Canada won gold and the crowd was really happy with it and everybody went crazy,” he said. “We’re out there to put on a show and obviously everybody enjoyed what they saw and were really happy with the outcome of it.”

Even Wilson, who needed a little bit of luck just to make America’s ‘A’ Team, using an opening created by an injury to a teammate to place second in two World Cup events. It was enough to earn an Olympic berth, and he didn’t waste it.

“A year ago, I would’ve been just happy to make the Olympics, that was my first goal,” Wilson said. “When I got down to the bottom, I saw the score, I hoped it would hold out and it did. And it was pretty amazing.”

So was Bilodeau, who helped shed Canada’s image as a harmless host in 23 seconds of brilliance.

“There was no pressure,” Bilodeau said. “Just great inspiration.”

Now his tale will be the one that inspires.