Canada's Olympic Skiing/Snowboarding Memories
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Canadian Olympic Alpine Ski Team [L to R]: Art Tommy, Walter Clausing (men's coach), Anne Heggtveit, Pepi Salvenmoser (women's coach), Lucile Wheeler, André Bertrand, Carlyn Kruger, Patricia Ramage (manager), Gigi Séguin [Absent]: Andy Tommy and Franz Gabl (injured) - CSM# 76.20 © Canadian Olympic Association (publication)
World War II denied Cortina d'Ampezzo its first opportunity to host the Olympic Winter Games in 1944. Twelve years would pass before it was selected again. Trained under the guidance of the legendary Ernie McCulloch at Mont Tremblant, Quebec, the men's alpine team was represented by André Bertrand, brothers Andy and Art Tommy, along with coach Franz Gabl. The women's team was coached by Pepi Salvenmoser and consisted of Anne Heggtveit, Carlyn Kruger, Lucile Wheeler and Ginette "Gigi" Séguin. The nordic representatives were Jacques Charland and bothers Clarence and Irvin Servold
Daily Program
In a repeat of previous Olympic Winter Games, injuries plagued both alpine and nordic teams during training. Franz Gabl was hospitalized in Cortina after suffering an injured ankle and a concussion, and was replaced by Walter Clausing. Andy Tommy suffered a spiral fracture to his right leg, while brother Art Tommy pulled ligaments in his right knee, thus ending their Olympic hopes. Gigi Séguin suffered several injuries including torn ankle ligaments that required continuous treatment, but she courageously persisted through the pain during Olympic competition, as did ski jumper Jacques Charland who held back on his distances due to a sprained ankle.
Canadian Olympic women's alpine team [L to R]: Anne Heggtveit, Lucile Wheeler, Frank Shaughnessy (Chef de Mission), Gigi Séguin, Patricia Ramage (manager), Carlyn Kruger - CSM# 76.20 © Canadian Olympic Association (publication)
As the only remaining representative on the men's alpine team, André Bertrand competed in three alpine events and performed well in each one despite taking bad falls. With a bronze medal in the downhill event, Lucile Wheeler became the toast of Canada, as the first Canadian skier to win an Olympic medal. Perhaps spurred on by Lucile's performance, the women's team results were exceptional overall, bettering anything achieved in previous Games.
Opening date: January 26, 1956
Closing date: February 5, 1956
Candidate cities: Colorado Springs (USA), Lake Placid (USA), Montreal (CAN)
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