Canadian speedskaters show off 2014 Sochi Olympics garb

The Canadian short-track speedskating team plans to be climbing the medal podium at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and when they do, they plan to do so in style.

While the 10 members of the team still need to go through the qualifying process ahead of the Sochi games, they were the first athletes named to Team Canada. That distinction made them the first Canadian athletes to model the new clothing line for the winter Olympics. The new zip-up jackets are red with black sleeves and have Canada displayed across the chest in white block letters.

Even if you’ve won Canada colors countless times before, Charles Hamelin says it’s a feeling like no other. And he should know after snagging two gold medals in 2010.

“I think this might be my favourite one,” Hamelin told reporters. “It’s a great feeling to put it on, like when you get the jacket, it’s for real, it’s official. I’m going to Sochi.”

The men’s speedskating team currently consists of Hamelin and his brother Francois, Olivier Jean, Michael Gilday and Charle Cournoyer. Of the group, Gilday born in Yellowknife, is the only member of the team not hailing from Quebec.

On the women’s side, Jessica Hewitt, from Kamloops, and Jessica Gregg of Edmonton, join Marianne St-Gelais, Marie-Eve Drolet and Valerie Maltais, all from Quebec.

The entire group has big expectations in Sochi after winning five medals four years ago in Vancouver. This time they’re looking for at least that many, if not more.

“I think we have a comparable team in terms of performance to what we had in Vancouver [2010] … I’d say the women’s team has the ability to compete at a very high level against the Chinese and the [South] Koreans,” Canadian short-track program director Yves Hamelin told reporters.

Canada has had a strong history of Olympic success at the oval. Since short-track speedskating was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1992, Canada has netted 25 medals. This year, some feel the team might really blossom without the pressure of performing in front of their home nation.