Bilodeau receives Olympic gold at BC Place
Posted Feb 16, 2010 04:44:44 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The roar of the crowd was deafening at Vancouver’s BC Place last night.
24,000 people cheered for Canada’s Alexandre Bilodeau when he received the gold medal he’d won the night before in the freestyle moguls — the first ever Olympic gold won by a Canadian at home.
The 22-year-old from Quebec admits a whirlwind 24 hours followed his Sunday night win, including meeting Wayne Gretzky and chatting with two prime ministers.
The moguls skier is already garnering serious attention from Canadian companies eager to attach their brands to his historic Olympic feat. Jeff Meerman of Bell Canada says Bilodeau could strike marketing gold.
In his hometown of Rosemere, Mayor Helene Daneault is promising a massive party when the new national hero returns home late next month. But Bilodeau’s hometown may have to wait a while to celebrate his big victory. His father, Serge, who is in Vancouver, says his son might actually not make it back until late March. Bilodeau has events coming up in Japan, Sweden and Spain.
He also has a national competition in Calgary around the end of March.
To watch Monday night’s medal ceremony click here
