 FILE-- Canadian Tania Vicent is shown in Montreal in this July 31, 2009 file photo. The veteran speedskater capped her competitive career Sunday by helping Canada win silver at the short-track world team championships. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
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Cdn men and women take silver at short-track world team championships
BORMIO, Italy - Veteran speedskater Tania Vicent capped her competitive career Sunday by helping Canada win silver at the short-track world team championships.
The Canadian men's team also won silver at the final event of the short-track season.
Only eight countries are invited to participate at the weekend competition, with five skaters per side. The relay events determined the winning teams for both the men's and women's competitions.
South Korea won the women's gold in four minutes 6.809 seconds, just over two seconds ahead of Canada, who finished in a national record time of 4:09.178.
"We had a good race, we didn't expect to go so fast," Vicent said. "But since the Olympics we have been very consistent with times around 4:09, which shows we are really competitive.
"The Koreans are just really strong in the relay."
Vicent, a native of Laval, Que., was joined by teammates Kalyna Roberge of St-Etienne-de-Lauzon, Que., Jessica Gregg of Edmonton, Marianne St-Gelais of St-Felicien, Que., and Valerie Maltais of La Baie, Que.
Vicent won her fourth career Olympic medal last month in Vancouver with a silver in the 3,000-metre relay. Her Olympic medals have all come in relays _ bronze in 1998 and 2002 to go with a silver from 2006.
Vicent, 34, announced earlier this year that the world team championships would be her final competition.
"I thought I'd get more emotional today," she said. "Maybe I will realize it more when the girls go back to training without me in a few weeks.
"I will definitely miss skating a lot but I have many other projects in mind that should keep me occupied, including starting a family."
In the men's relay, South Korea passed Canada on the last lap and held on for the win in 6:40.888. Canada was just behind in 6:41.028.
"We were patient and made some good passes to take the lead in the last 12 laps," said Canada's Guillaume Bastille. "In the end, a very tight pass that the referees judged was OK gave the victory to the Koreans but we did great and are proud."
Bastille, of Riviere-du-Loup, Que., teamed with Charles and Francois Hamelin of Ste-Julie, Que., Francois-Louis Tremblay of Montreal and Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que.
The win gave South Korea a 38-36 victory in the men's points race. China was third with 24.
South Korea had a 45-35 edge on Canada in the women's points race. Italy was third with 21.
