A gold medal for Ashleigh McIvor in the women's ski cross and a thumping victory by the men's ice hockey team brought a huge sigh of relief from hosts Canada at the Winter Olympics yesterday. It was a day to savour for Canada but not one Dutch speed skater Sven Kramerwill remember fondly after a crass error by his coach robbed him of the 10,000 metres speedskating gold medal in one of the most dramatic moments of the Games. The world record-holder and white-hot favourite celebrated victory but within seconds of crossing the line he threw his glasses down in fury and kicked the track in frustration after being told he had been disqualified for crossing into the wrong lane. Kramer, who cruised to the 5000m gold earlier in the Games, sat despondently on a bench, his head down and elbows on his knees after the error came to light. "I am furious," Kramer told reporters about the gaffe, when an apparent miscommunication with his coach caused him to skate into the wrong lane. "It's a matter of concentration. Not a concentration failure on my side," he said. "It was the best 10,000m I have ever skated. I am mad with the coach and I will have a conversation with him." It was a rough day for a number of favourites including Austria's once-dominant Alpine skiers who again missed out on the medals on the Whistler slopes. As snow and rain swept the Olympic venues, Carlo Janka became the first Swiss man to win the Olympic giant slalom gold since 1984.
Canada collected its sixth gold of the Games through McIvor in the women's ski cross, after one of her main rivals, Ophelie David of France, crashed out earlier. McIvor's win puts Canada fourth in the medals table. The US are first with 26, including seven golds.
