BEIJING, China — Megan Oldham of Ontario offered some comfort to Canada after a tough start to the day at the Beijing Olympics on Monday.
Oldham came out on top in qualifying for the women’s freestyle high jump event, posting the best combined score to earn her ticket to the event final.
The 20-year-old Oldham scored 80.00 in the first of three runs and added 91.25 to her total with a high second jump.
The total of the best two runs was used to determine the 12 skiers who will take part in the final on Tuesday (Monday evening at 9 p.m. in Quebec), and Oldham was firmly at the top of the standings when she missed her third jump.
She will be joined in the final by 17-year-old Quebecer Olivia Asselin, who finished qualifying in 11th place. Canadian Elena Gaskell did not start this competition.
The day got off to a bad start for Canada, which let slip a two-point lead against Italy in mixed curling.
Canadians Rachel Homan and John Morris led 7-5 after seven ends, but Italians Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini scored two to force an extra end.
Homan placed the last stone of the match on the button, but the Italians’ one was closer to the center by a few millimeters. The setback left Canada short of an appearance in the semi-finals of the event.
Things didn’t improve in the women’s giant slalom event.
Quebecer Valérie Grenier snatched one of the last gates of the track during her first run and she was disqualified from the competition.
The other Canadian in the running, Cassidy Gray, was also disqualified and will not participate in the final.
Canada also failed to defend its Olympic title in the team event in figure skating. In fact, he failed to even make it to the podium.
18-year-old Ontarian Madeline Schizas had another strong performance at this meet and finished third in the women’s free program.
It put Canada in fourth with a total of 53 points, 10 behind Japan, who won the bronze medal.
