BEIJING — Here are some notable quotes from the Beijing Olympics on Feb. 18, 2022:
"I'm speechless. I thought I had a good chance at a medal this week, more so in the 500 metres where I finished fourth. I had a tough week trying to get over that. It's a big shock to get a medal, it is amazing. It took a lot of belief and a lot of support to turn things around, and I'm really proud."
—Speedskater Laurent Dubreuil on his silver medal in the men's 1,000 metres.
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“I’m pretty sad I couldn’t set a proper time, but Laurent skated really, really fast in the first 600. It can happen. After the second inner, I didn't feel I had enough speed to go before him in the lane change. So I had to quit. Otherwise, I would’ve been disqualified and probably messed up his race.”
- Dutch world champion Kai Verbij, who finished last after he backed off on the final crossover straight, knowing he didn't have quite enough speed to get in front of Canada's Dubreuil.
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"Coming to these Games after being out for nine months, I knew that it was going to take a lot to even just be on the podium. So this feels incredibly special. I'm incredibly proud of myself and I'm just grateful to have put all of the pieces together today."
—Cassie Sharpe, who worked her way back from a devastating injury last year to capture silver in the freeski halfpipe.
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"It was really heartbreaking for me last Games to be first alternate but I wasn't ready to medal then. So coming into these Games as a medal contender was just amazing and I can't believe how far I've come in the last four years and I'm super proud."
—Rachael Karker, from Erin, Ont., after winning bronze in freeski halfpipe.
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"I think our team fought through and grinded and came away with a bronze medal. It was quite clear to any curling fan that we weren't at our best this week."
—Skip Brad Gushue, who led Canada to a third-place finish in men's curling with an 8-5 win over American John Shuster.
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"I'm bummed. I'm tired. I'm relieved that it's over. I'm proud of how I skied. Disappointed, for sure, as well. A lot of emotions going on."
—Calgary’s Brady Leman, the 2018 Olympic champion, after finishing sixth in the men's ski cross.
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"It has been two straight weeks of the most intense highs and lows I've ever experienced in my life. It has changed my life forever. The second I landed the last 1600 in big air I knew my life was never going to be the same."
"Even then I would have never imagined that I'd walk away with another silver and another gold."
—Three-time Beijing medallist Eileen Gu, who won gold in big air, gold in freeski halfpipe and silver in freeski slopestyle.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2022.
The Canadian Press
