MONTREAL -- Charles Hamelin is confident that he wont stop at just one gold medal at the world short-track speedskating championships.
Josh McRoberts Jersey . Three weeks after winning gold in the 1,500 metres at the Sochi Olympics, Hamelin did it again Friday as he cruised to the win in the opening event at the Maurice Richard Arena. The 1,500 used to be the weakest event for the Ste-Julie, Que., skater, but now he seems to own the distance as he easily finished ahead of Han Tianyu of China and bronze medallist Park Se Yeong of South Korea. Earlier this week, the 29-year-old Hamelin announced that he will continue to skate at least four more years until the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea. "In the 1,500 metres, every time I go on the podium now it proves that the work Ive done in the last four years has really paid off," he said. "Its proof that Im improving year after year. "Thats a big part of why I wanted to continue for four more years. You can see Im still strong. After a big event like Sochi, I was able to come back and refocus on what I need to do here. Im ready." Now he hopes to avoid the bad luck that followed his Olympic gold. In Sochi, he inexplicably fell in the heats of both the 500 and 1,000-metre events, dashing his hopes of sweeping the individual distances. He said the world championships are different because, instead of waiting a day or two between skates like at the Olympics, he will be back on the track Saturday for the 500 metres and the mens relay heats and again on Sunday for the 1,000, the 3,000, and, he hopes, the relay final. "Momentum is a big part of it and right now, its on my side," he said. "I had a great race and I know Im strong in the 500 and 1,000 metres." Hamelins goal is to win the overall title, which goes to the skater who does best cumulatively in the individual events. He has come second for that honour twice, but has never won it. He said the first rule is to avoid a disqualification in any race. The large crowd of mostly school children in the stands was worried that might happen when, halfway through the race, Hamelin nearly crashed into a South Korean. He managed to stay upright and then pass Han on the final lap to claim the win. Race officials did not call a foul. "He passed me on the outside and came back really quickly in front of me," said Hamelin. "He was one or two centimetres from hitting my blades. "It could have been a disaster for me, but I was able to control myself and not push too hard or lose too much speed. For him, the race was kind of over. It was a scary moment in the race." Hamelins biggest rival in recent years, five-time overall world champion Victor An of Russia, formerly known as Ahn Hyun-Soo of South Korea, never mounted a challenge and finished fourth. An won three golds and a bronze in Sochi. Wu Dajing of China was fifth ahead of South Koreans Lee Han-Bin and Sin Da Woon. Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que., and Charle Cournoyer of Boucherville, Que., were eliminated in the semifinals. South Korea swept the podium in the womens 1,500. Shim Suk Hee finished first ahead of Kim Alang and Park Seung-Hi. Valerie Maltais of La Baie, Que., was caught at the finish line by Park and settled for fourth. Marianne St-Gelais lost in the semifinals while Marie-Eve Drolet was beaten in the heats and was classified 22nd.
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Swingman Josh McRoberts Jersey . The San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders are giving it a try, too.ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Matthew Staffords homecoming is a secondary story line this weekend — if that.Still, theres something fitting about the fact that Detroits quarterback will play perhaps the biggest game of his career against the team he grew up rooting for in the Dallas suburbs — the Lions open the post-season in Texas against the Cowboys on Sunday.I dont need much motivation, its a playoff game. Win or go home gives you enough motivation, Stafford said. Obviously, itll be fun playing in front of a bunch of my friends and family, but other than that, just trying to win a football game.Stafford could really use a victory in this one. The No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft, hes put up big numbers during his career and helped the Lions return to respectability, but thats the extent of his accomplishments so far.This is the teams second post-season appearance with Stafford, and the Lions still have only one playoff win in the Super Bowl era — against Dallas in January 1992.The 26-year-old Stafford is at the point in his career where more is expected from a franchise quarterback, and an uneven regular season did little to quiet his legion of skeptics — even though the Lions went 11-5 to secure an NFC wild card.I was getting criticized when I was throwing for 5,000 yards, 4,000 yards and not winning games. Im going to get criticized, Stafford said. If you try and make everybody happy its going to be a long day for you.The Lions made the playoffs in large part because of their consistency. They beat the teams they were expected to beat, but they generally came up short in the toughest games on their schedule.Stafford is 0-17 on the road in his career against teams that finished the regular season with a winning record, according to STATS. That includes a playoff loss at New Orleans at the end of the 2011 season.It also includes last wweekends loss at Green Bay, when the Lions had a chance to win the NFC North.
Shaquille ONeal Jersey. . Stafford was 20 of 41 for 217 yards and three touchdowns — good enough to keep Detroit in the game, but not good enough to win it.Stafford hasnt been helped much by his offensive line this season. Hes been sacked 45 times, and thats part of the reason hes thrown for only 4,257 yards — his fewest over a full season in his career.Coach Jim Caldwell made it clear he doesnt think Stafford alone will determine whether the Lions win or lose against Dallas.He has an opportunity to play great. Were hoping that he plays well, Caldwell said. It doesnt take him playing great for us to win. He just has to play well. Theres a lot of other people on that football team that have to do their job. Its absolutely not just a one-man show.One of Staffords best moments as a pro came last season in a home victory over Dallas. Stafford threw for 488 yards and won the game with a 1-yard run in the final seconds. Calvin Johnson had 14 catches for 329 yards in that game.It was a tough matchup for us and chips just fell where they did, Johnson said. We ended up having a great game on offence and it still was a close game. To be able to have the output I did in that game was crazy.Days like that have been few and far between for the Detroit passing game this season, but Stafford and Johnson are still one of the leagues most dangerous tandems — and another huge performance is always a possibility.There will be a time when you will say that Matthew Stafford is one heck of a quarterback, Caldwell said. Hes moving in that direction, and that could be come Sunday.NOTES: The Lions listed DT Nick Fairley (knee) as doubtful. He hasnt played since Oct. 26. OL Larry Warford (knee) is out.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
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