beyondBeijing2008.com

VANCOUVER – Ahead of the Vancouver Games, the  Canadian Olympic Committee launched the ambitious “Own the Podium” program with the explicit goal to “place first in the total medal count at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.”

Even though the Canadian government and corporate sponsors spent a record $112 million over four years on training through the program, as of Friday afternoon, the Canadians were far short of their goal to win the most medals in Vancouver – the United States had 32 medals, with Canada coming in fourth place with 18 medals.

Tony Gentile / Reuters

Gold medalists Canada’s Kaillie Humphries, left, and Heather Moyse, right, celebrate after winning the women’s bobsleigh on Feb. 24.

But despite all the money aimed at athletes of both genders, the women may own the podium after all. So far, the Canadian women have accounted for nearly 80 percent of the national medal haul. 

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