ITALY: Canada's Jennifer Heil has been celebrating her freestyle skiing gold medal with friends.

Record ID: 332074

  • Title: ITALY: Canada's Jennifer Heil has been celebrating her freestyle skiing gold medal with friends.
  • Date: 15th February 2006
  • Summary: TURIN, ITALY(FEBRUARY 12, 2006)(REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DRINKING CHAMPAGNE AND APPLAUDING JENNIFER HEIL HOLDING GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE CLOSE UP ON HEIL SIGNING AUTOGRAPH HEIL HUGGING A FAN WIDE OF RECEPTION ROOM HEIL SIGNING AUTOGRAPH FOR FAN (SOUNDBITE)(English) HEIL SAYS: I made a few mistakes coming across the finish line with my turn, so for me I was just hoping that I would still going to be on the podium. And I did not expect to win gold so when I saw that it actually happened and that it was gold it was just like my heart stopped and it was just such an incredible feeling. It has been such a big dream of mine and so many people have helped me along the way, it's just so exciting. " FAN TAKING PHOTO (SOUNDBITE)(English): "Yes think that they will get it right. I can't wait to hear the Canadian anthem" FANS TAKING PHOTO HEIL SIGNING AUTOGRAPH ON SCARF
  • Embargoed: 2nd March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3O9ZIAIW312E6C21EKOR3SG3F
  • Story Text: The first Canadian gold medalist of the Games, Jennifer Heil who won the freestyle skiing moguls event, was met by friends and fans on Sunday (February 12) at the Canada house in the heart of Turin, a day after her victory.
    Heil was thrilled to strike gold four years after the Olympics in Salt

    Lake City, where she missed out on a bronze medal by the tiniest margin

    possible, one one-hundredth of a point.
    She said she had not actually realised she was delivering a gold medal performance until the end of her run. "I made a few mistakes coming across the finish line with my turn, so for me I was just hoping that I would still going to be on the podium. And I did not expect to win gold so when I saw that it

    actually happened and that it was gold it was just like my heart stopped and it was just such an incredible feeling, " she said.
    Last night Olympic organisers were left embarrassed when the course announcer told the crowd that Heil, of Canada, was skiing for the United States. Heil said she had been assured the organisers would raise the correct flag for the medal ceremony.
    "Yes, I think that they will get it right. I can't wait to hear the Canadian anthem," she said.
    Heil took 12 months off after her Salt Lake experience after a series of injuries and returned in winning form.
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