Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement congratulating Charles Hamelin on winning the gold medal in the men’s short track 1500m. The Prime Minister also congratulated Alex Bilodeau and Mikaël Kingsbury who won gold and silver medals respectively in the men’s freestyle skiing moguls’ competition.

“Canadians were absolutely thrilled by Charles Hamelin’s gold medal-winning performance in the short track event today. I join proud Canadians from coast to coast to coast in congratulating him on this outstanding achievement.

“We were also tremendously excited to see Alex Bilodeau defend his gold medal in men’s moguls alongside teammate Mikaël Kingsbury, who won the silver today. These are remarkable achievements and our nation is ecstatic.”

Charles Hamelin was born in Lévis, Quebec, and currently resides in Montreal. This is his fourth medal in his third Olympic Games, having won a silver medal in the 5000m relay in Turin and gold medals in both the 500m and 5000m relay in Vancouver.  Mr. Hamelin was Canada’s only multiple gold medalist of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. His gold medal in Sochi makes him one of only two Canadian men to win three gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games.

Alex Bilodeau was born in Montreal, Quebec, where he currently resides.  This is his second Olympic medal in his third Olympic Games, having competed in Turin in 2006 and having won a gold medal in Vancouver in 2010. In Vancouver, he was the first Canadian athlete to ever win an Olympic gold medal on home soil. Mr. Bilodeau won a gold medal at the 2013 FIS World Championships in dual moguls and a silver medal in moguls.

Mikaël Kingsbury was born in Sainte-Agathe-Des-Monts, Quebec, and currently resides in Deux-Montagnes, Quebec. This is Mr. Kingsbury’s first Olympic medal in his first Olympic Games. At the 2013 FIS World Championships he won a gold medal in moguls and a silver medal in dual moguls. At the 2011 FIS World Championships he won a bronze medal in moguls and a silver medal in dual moguls. In 2010, he was named the International Ski Federation’s World Cup Rookie of the Year.

Quick Facts:

• The 2014 Olympic Winter Games are being held from February 7 to 23 in Sochi, Russia.
• Canada is represented by more than 221 athletes competing in 15 winter sport disciplines.

src:news.gc.ca