Remi Drolet won Team BC their first gold medal for week two sports at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, in the 10 kilometre men's cross country interval start.
"The race went really well. It is a tough course with lots of steep hill and technical downhills. Since it is an interval start you just have to go really hard the whole way," said Drolet. "It is really cold right now, and the snow is slow so it is especially important to go extra hard uphill."
Drolet (Rossland) finished in first with a time of 22:05.1 in -19 C weather, almost 52 seconds ahead of Reed Godfrey of Alberta. The bronze medallist, Graham Ritchie (22:58.2), is from Ontario.
"It is really important to pace yourself and not go super hard off the start because you knew I had to push extra hard later to get ahead. I feel really good today and was able to maintain proper technique the whole race so I was happy with that."
Racing in the cross country 10 kilometre men's interval start event, Drolet (Rossland) finished in first with a time of 22:05.01, almost 52 seconds ahead of the silver medallist Reed Godfrey (2:22.4) of Alberta. The bronze medallist Graham Ritchie (22:58.2) is from Ontario.
Drolet is part of the Black Jack Ski Club and has been a member of the junior national ski team since 2007. He is also a recipient of the 2018 Petro-Canada Face grant.
Five Team BC athletes, including Drolet, finished inside the Top 10. Joe (canto) Davies finished just off the podium with a time of 23:18.7 in fourth place. Michael Murdoch (Whistler) finished in seventh, Tallon Noble (Kelowna) and Ian Williams (Kelowna) finished in 10th.
"I just want to say thanks to all the volunteers and organizers at today's race. It was perfect," said Drolet.