CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Olympians have made many trips to the podium at the Beijing Winter Games, but heading into Tuesday, only one of those included a stop on the top step.

After an eight-day wait, Canada has claimed its elusive second gold medal courtesy of the womenB次元官网网址檚 pursuit speedskating team.

Valerie Maltais of Saguenay, Que., and Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann of Ottawa combined forces to defeat Japan in the eventB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淎B次元官网网址� final in an Olympic-record time of two minutes 53.44 seconds.

Japan had a slight lead entering the final turn, but Nana Takagi went down on the final turn and crashed into the padding, allowing Canada to cruise to the win.

Weidemann now has won a medal of every colour in Beijing. She won silver in the 5,000 metres and bronze in the 3,000.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e giving everything we have,B次元官网网址� the Ottawa native said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all going to the blackout zone. We were just going to cross the line having spent it all.

B次元官网网址淚t took us a while at the end to figure it all out.B次元官网网址�

Takagi broke into tears after getting up to finish the race, and was consoled by teammates Ayano Sato and Miho Takagi, her sister.

The final time isnB次元官网网址檛 recorded until all skaters cross the line, giving the Canadians an 11.03-second margin of victory.

B次元官网网址淭he last part of the race is our strongest,B次元官网网址� Blondin said. B次元官网网址淚 think that we would have caught them.B次元官网网址�

Weidemann became the second Canadian long-track speedskater to win more than two medals at a single Games. Cindy Klassen won five medals in Turin.

Maltais, for her part, became the third athlete in Winter Games history to win Olympic medals in short-track and long-track events, the Canadian Olympic Committee said.

While the golds have been hard to come by for Canada, it had 17 total medals (two gold, four silver, 11 bronze) heading into TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 late events.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first gold medal came on Feb. 7, when snowboarder Max Parrot won the menB次元官网网址檚 slopestyle event. While Parrot couldnB次元官网网址檛 duplicate his podium-topping performance in TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 big air, he did take bronze in the event to give Canada its sixth snowboard medal.

Earlier Tuesday, Jasmine Baird of Georgetown, Ont., was seventh and Quebec CityB次元官网网址檚 Laurie Blouin was eighth in the womenB次元官网网址檚 event.

In menB次元官网网址檚 curling, Brad GushueB次元官网网址檚 tap back against two in the 10th end gave Canada a 10-8 win over China.

B次元官网网址淚 was just trying to focus on what I needed to do,B次元官网网址� Gushue said. B次元官网网址淭hrow the right way, hit the broom. It was not a very difficult shot. So I was just trying to make sure I threw proper.B次元官网网址�

Canada (5-2) won its third game in a row and sat in third place in the round-robin standings heading into a game against Russia later Tuesday. The top four teams after the round robin advance to the semifinals.

It was a tough go in the womenB次元官网网址檚 freeski slopestyle for Olivia Asselin. The 17-year-old from Quebec City completed her first run with a minimal number of tricks before withdrawing from the competition.

Freestyle Canada chief executive officer Peter Judge said Asselin tweaked her knee in training and was also struggling psychologically with the pressures of competing at an Olympics.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 pretty devastated. I think as anybody would be, you know?B次元官网网址� said Judge. B次元官网网址淵ou get here, you want to do your best, you know your friends and family are there, you know your country is supporting you. You want to do as best as possible.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 pretty gutted, but sheB次元官网网址檚 a tough little girl and I think sheB次元官网网址檒l bounce back.B次元官网网址�

Max Moffatt will be the lone Canadian competing in the menB次元官网网址檚 freestyle ski slopestyle final after finishing 11th in the qualifier on Tuesday.

Moffatt won a slopestyle silver at the X Games earlier this year.

In the menB次元官网网址檚 4x7.5-kilometre biathlon relay, Canada finished sixth for its best-ever result in the event. Scott Gow, Christian Gow and Adam Runnalls, all from Calgary, and Jules Burnotte of Sherbrooke, Que., finished one minute 56.3 seconds behind gold medallist Norway.

In the womenB次元官网网址檚 downhill, Marie-Mich猫le Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., placed eighth and Roni Remme of Collingwood, Ont., was 24th.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy and IB次元官网网址檓 proud of my performance, but IB次元官网网址檓 confused why I didnB次元官网网址檛 get a medal today,B次元官网网址� said Gagnon.

Madeline Schizas, who made an impressive debut last week in the figure skating team event, was unable to duplicate her clean skate and ended with a 60.53 in the womenB次元官网网址檚 short program. The result left her sitting out of the top 10 midway through the event, but will qualify her for the free skate.

In menB次元官网网址檚 freestyle skiing aerials, Canadian Miha Fontaine just missed qualifying for the final round. Fontaine, who was part of the team that won bronze in the mixed team aerials, finished in 13th, less than half a point back from the final spot. Emile Nadeau and Lewis Irving finished 17th and 23rd, respectively.

B次元官网网址擳he Canadian Press