Dans les journaux après la première journée de la Coupe du Monde

Les frères Hamelin brisent la glace
RDS - Samedi 25 octobre 2008
Charles Hamelin a poursuivi sur sa lancée, samedi, à la Coupe du monde de Vancouver, en décrochant la médaille d’or au 1000 m.

En plus de mériter sa première victoire de la saison, l’athlète de Sainte-Julie a réalisé une autre première à Vancouver. Celle de partager le podium avec son petit frère François qui a remporté le bronze. L’Américain Anthony Lobello s’est pour sa part faufilé entre les deux patineurs de Sainte-Julie.

« Ç’a été une finale assez mouvementée où il y a eu beaucoup d’action et où il fallait jouer de stratégie », a raconté Charles Hamelin qui a pris les devants de la course dès les premiers mètres.

« Je voulais voir comment les autres allait réagir », a-t-il expliqué. C’est cependant avant que l’Américain Apolo Anton Ohno joue du coude et bouscule le meneur alors qu’il ne restait que cinq tours à faire.

Photo AP by JONATHAN HAYWARD

Podium fraternel
Radio-Canada - 26 octobre 2008
Hamelin a connu un départ explosif, ce qui lui a permis de prendre la tête de la course d'entrée de jeu. En quatrième place à la mi-course, il a usé de patience avant d'orchestrer une poussée victorieuse.

« J'ai effectué un dépassement intérieur sur mon frère et j'ai ensuite profité de mes chances », a-t-il affirmé.

Brothers Hamelin reach short-track podium
Fellow Canadian Maltais places 10th overall in women's 1,500 metres
CBC - October 25 -
Like good family men, speed-skating brothers Charles and François Hamelin of Ste-Julie, Que., stuck together Saturday, finishing first and third respectively in the men's 1,000 metres at a short-track World Cup event.

Canada hits podium at short-track WC
Sportsnet

"It's what I wanted to do, win gold," said Charles Hamelin. "I wanted to see how the race would run and impose my own rhythm and run my own race. We didn't have any team strategy. When you're in a race with a Canadian, you never want to cross-track or cut off your teammate."

Speed skating: Apolo Anton Ohno dethroned as Canadian takes gold
Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun - October 25, 2008
Charles Hamelin of Montreal passed American Apolo Anton Ohno on the first turn of the final lap Saturday to claim a victory in a thrilling and controversial men's 1,000-metre final at the Samsung ISU World Cup short track meet at Pacific Coliseum.
Ohno, who had grabbed the lead with five laps to go in the nine-lap race, crossed the line in second but was disqualified after the race for what the officials called "cross-tracking." He appeared to nudge Hamelin in the turn, but didn't see it that way.

"I got hit twice, I had the right of way because I was in the lead," said Ohno. "Charles kind of hit me twice. I thought for sure he was going to be disqualified after the race, but it's out of my control."

Hamelin, of course, saw it differently.

"He ran into me twice." Hamelin said the race was a terrific showcase for the sport as it goes through a pre-Olympic test this weekend. "To have a race like that, it is pretty much what you want. A lot of action, a good finish at the end, with some Canadians on the podium."

Relais 5000m Demi-finale

Olivier Jean, gives teammate Francois-Louis Tremblay a push as United States skater Jeff Simon skates during the men's 5000 meter semifinal relay
Canada's Charles Hamelin, Olivier Jean, and Francois-Louis Tremblay celebrate their first place finish in the men's 5000 meter semifinal relay at the World Cup short track speed skating championships in Vancouver, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008. Canada finished in first position and will move on to the final.