Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 31, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page 1 perspective editor Buzz Currie 697 7577 Buzz. Currie free press. My. Ca i Winnipeg repress. Com sunday August 31, 2008 b 1 Send news tips and photos to tips free press. My. Ca for breaking news go to Winnipeg repress. Com this Story is an extract from Selena Hinds thesis toward her masters degree in journalism from Carleton University. D r. Peter Davis has advised olympic organizations in More than 20 countries and has a reputation for delivering results. He overhauled the system in his Homeland Australia and watched his countrymen dominate the games in Sydney in 2000. Now hers been hired to do for Canada at Vancouver in 2010, what he did for Australia. And he is not sure hell succeed. When Davis first rolled into Calgary nearly two years ago he looked at the state of Canadas High performance sport system and cringed. My first impression was that we were too late in getting this going. The very Day Vancouver was announced in 2003 or before that there should have been a targeting program underway but it took nearly two years Davis said at the Calgary office of own the podium the $ 110 million Canadian Winter sports initiative. Its pretty Tough for Canada. Were pushing hard to get olympic medals and do All these things that should have been in place before that we could have just built on Davis said. Things Are getting better every Day but whether get better in time for 2010 olympics i struggle to see that. Well certainly do better but whether Well hit the target i dont know. The target is to win More medals than anyone else in Vancouver. In its previous years As an olympic Host the summer of 1976 in Montreal and the Winter of 1988 in Calgary Canada did not win a single Gold medal. Own the podium is the Winter initiative its summer counterpart Road to excellence got its most recent report card this month in Beijing. Canada won 18 medals and tied for 14th with Spain in total medals hitting its stated goal of a top 16 finish. Since of pcs launch in 2005, sport associations sex athletes corporate officials and the Public in Canada have praised the bold initiative. But As the cheers build with two years to go a Little perspective is warranted. Davis is one of the few people in the Canadian sport system willing to admit Canada might have bitten off More than it can Chew. There Are signs top is working. Canadian athletes Are recording their highest Levels of world cup Competition Success led by Canadas Long track Speed skaters. Jeremy Wotherspoon for example looks stronger than Ever. The 32 year old from red Deer alta., credits his american coach Mike Crowe for much of his Success. Crowe started working with Wotherspoon in May 2007, and he is great example of what the top funding can do. Crowers twice been the u. S. Coach of the year and he led the u. S. Speed skating team to 10 of the country is 25 medals at Salt Lake City in 2002. Its been Good in a few ways to be training with Mike because he comes from a different background than my last coach. He has a different Way of looking at skating and the technique and physiology thatus required. Its Nice to have a new perspective on things Wotherspoon said. Selena Hinds on thin ice Itell be no walk in the Park to own the podium in Vancouver Canadas Lindsay Alcock competes in her first olympics the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. Since then Sheds become a standout on the world cup Skeleton circuit and will be a medal Hope at the Vancouver games in 2010. Continued please see thin ice b 2 a 01_ aug 31 08. Ind 1 8 / 30/ 08 5 54 45 pm ;