Three McGillians strike gold at Vancouver Olympics

(PHOTO: Kim St-Pierre (far left), displays her Olympic gold medal along with fellow McGillians Catherine Ward, Peter Smith and Charline Labonte).

MONTREAL - When the Canadian Olympic women's hockey team captured gold at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Thursday, three athletes from McGill University received medals, bringing the institution's total to four for the current Games.

Charline Labonté, a current physical education major from Boisbriand, Que., achieved the pinnacle along with graduates Catherine Ward (BCom'09) from Town of Montreal and Kim St-Pierre (BEd'05) of Chateauguay, Que. The Canadian women's team received their medals (and a Quebec-style two-cheek kiss) from Richard Pound, the former McGill swimmer, Olympian and chancellor, who is a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Both Labonté and Jennifer Heil, a native of Spruce Grove, Alta., who won silver in freestyle skiing on opening day, are on a leave of absence from their studies.

Also part of the winning squad was McGill Martlets head coach Peter Smith of Lachine, Que., who was serving as an assistant coach. The IOC does not award medals to members of the coaching staff.

Over the past century, 111 McGill students or grads have gone on to Olympic glory and they have won a combined total of 28 Olympic medals, including eight golds, nine silver and 11 bronze.

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

Communications Officer

McGill University Athletics & Recreation

514-398-7012 (tel.)