Comox snowboarder Carle BrennemanB次元官网网址檚 Olympic dream became a reality, Friday in Pyeongchang, Korea, as she competed for Canada in the womenB次元官网网址檚 snowboard cross competition.

While, ideally, her day would have lasted two more runs - she was eliminated in the quarter-finals - the end result did little to dull the sheen of what has been a lifelong goal.

B次元官网网址淢aking it to the Olympics is something I have dreamed of as a kid - itB次元官网网址檚 definitely a huge accomplishment to be here,B次元官网网址� said Brenneman in a post-race interview with the Comox Valley Record. B次元官网网址淲inning a medal is what I came here for so that would be the actual dream come true. IB次元官网网址檓 proud of the work I put in and I did everything I could to make that possible. Unfortunately it wasnB次元官网网址檛 my day and I am still proud of what IB次元官网网址檝e accomplished.B次元官网网址�

Her parents shared in the excitement, as they travelled to Korea to cheer on their Olympian daughter. They were at the finish line for the competition, and CarleB次元官网网址檚 mom, Lori, said it was both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience.

B次元官网网址淎s parents we were very nervous for Carle. The course was extremely tough and up until the day of the race wind has been a huge factor,B次元官网网址� she told The Record. B次元官网网址淭here were a number of athletes that were injured during practice and qualifying rounds. I had the opportunity to talk to quite a few mothers of snowboard cross athletes, both menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚, and with this course our strongest hope, as mothers, was for them to finish unscathed.B次元官网网址�

A teammate of CarleB次元官网网址檚 - Meryeta OB次元官网网址橠ine, of Prince George - was one of the aforementioned casualties. She crashed in training and a resulting concussion forced her to bow out of the competition.

FridayB次元官网网址檚 comp (Thursday evening in Canada) started with qualifying runs, to seed competitors. With only 24 competitors suiting up on race day, a spot in the quarters was assured, as long as a posted time was achieved.

B次元官网网址淭ime trails break down the heats and give you gate choice,B次元官网网址� said Brenneman. B次元官网网址淥n the Olympic course it wasnB次元官网网址檛 make or break for lane choice so I wasnB次元官网网址檛 too worried.B次元官网网址�

Brenneman completed her first run in 1:21.57, tied for 16th, with teammate Zoe Bergermann, of North Vancouver.

Tess Critchlow of Kelowna was 15th overall.

A top-12 finish in Round 1 of qualifying would have advanced them directly to the quarter-finals. Instead, Brenneman and her teammates all had to go through the second round of qualifying.

Brenneman posted a time of 1:20.89 in Round 2, despite not feeling comfortable with her run.

B次元官网网址淭he second run was probably my worst run of my whole day,B次元官网网址� said Brenneman. B次元官网网址淚 think I almost fell about five times. I almost gave up a few times but all those mistakes still made for a faster time then my first. It definitely gives you confidence when you get a good and fast run put in before finals.B次元官网网址�

Critchlow and Bergermann also improved their times, and ended up slotted in the same quarter-final heat QF2).

Brenneman was in the fourth quarter-final heat. She pinpointed her demise in the quarter-final to a specific part of the course.

B次元官网网址淚t was the five-roller jump between corner 1 and 2,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 ended up coming a little short on the top two that I was doubling. It killed my speed and I knew IB次元官网网址檇 have to fight to make it back. I tried to pass again in corner 2 and 5 but I unfortunately was not able to get a clean pass with a girl falling into my line in both corners.B次元官网网址�

She placed fourth in the heat, just 0.40 seconds behind Belle Brockhoff, of Australia. The top three finishers in each quarter-final moved on to the semis.

Critchlow advanced to the semifinals. She finished fourth in her semifinal heat, to advance to the consolation, or B次元官网网址渟mall final,B次元官网网址� where she placed third.

Their final Olympic rankings were Critchlow, ninth; Brenneman, 14th; Bergermann (who had a DNF in her quarter-final), 23rd.

Lori said that while her daughter was disappointed with her early exit, thatB次元官网网址檚 a feeling exclusive to the athletes.

B次元官网网址淥f course for the athletes themselves nothing but a podium was good enough. The fortitude and strength of these athletes is undeniable. Carle is disappointed that she didnB次元官网网址檛 achieve that podium placement for both herself as well as her many supporters. Our heart goes out to a Carle. For us as parents, we couldnB次元官网网址檛 be prouder.B次元官网网址�

Now that the competitive portion of her Olympic journey has concluded, Carle and her teammates can share the rest of the experience, with their respective families.

B次元官网网址淲e have been so focused on training and preparing for our event they we havenB次元官网网址檛 been able to really do anything yet,B次元官网网址� said Carle. B次元官网网址淪o now we are going to watch as many events as possible soak in the whole Olympic experience and cheer on Canada.B次元官网网址�

Carle Brenneman will be 32 by the time the 2022 Winter Olympics take place in Beijing, China. Will she be back?

B次元官网网址淵eah I mean if IB次元官网网址檓 still enjoying it and my body can still handle it, then IB次元官网网址檓 all in,B次元官网网址� she said.