Champion

Moyse golden
STEPHEN BRUN
The Journal Pioneer
WHISTLER, B.C. – Summerside’s unofficial delegation to the Vancouver Olympics was in full celebration mode. About 20 of Heather Moyse’s family and friends tried to soak in the 31-year-old’s historic gold medal win in the women’s two-person bobsled competition yesterday. Speaking just moments after his sister and her driving partner Kaillie Humphries took to the top of the podium, Walter Moyse was still trying to absorb the meaning of the win. “In Torino four years ago (where Moyse and Helen Upperton narrowly missed the podium), she was a first-time Olympian, then this year she was a two-time Olympian and now my sister’s an Olympic champion,” he said from the Whistler Sliding Centre. “It’s crazy.”Moyse and Humphries, in the Canada 1 sled, became the first Canadian gold-medal winners in women’s bobsled history. They enjoyed a comfortable 0.57 of a second lead coming into the final heat, and posted a total time of 3:32:28 over their four runs to take the top spot. But they weren’t the only reason fans had to cheer for their country. Canada 2’s Upperton and brakeman Shelley-Ann Brown blazed down the track in a total time of 3:33:13 to claim a silver medal. Garth Turtle, who coached Moyse over 13 years ago at Three Oaks Senior High School, was also in attendance Wednesday night in Whistler.He said the sensational run by Upperton nearly overshadowed Moyse and Humphries’ moment. “Upperton had done so well and the place went absolutely nuts so no one was really paying attention when Heather and Kaillie started. All of a sudden someone said, ‘Oh my God, they’re gone,’” Turtle said. “I’ve seen a lot of things, but this was the experience of a lifetime. It was absolutely unbelieveable.” Moyse’s supporters barely had time to speak with Heather, who was doing interviews with a slew of media outlets after the race, but Walter said the family would get a chance to see the Island's Olympic hero at Canada House later that night. “I just got a chance to hug her and tell her she had a great race,” said Walter. But did anyone get much sleep last night after the big win? “Probably not,” laughed Walter. “There’s a lot of excitement here and it's still sinking in. We're ready to celebrate.”