Matching Olympic gold medallist Chandra Crawford’s efficacious skate stride through the final 50 metres of Wednesday’s (Jan. 8) qualifier race at the Canmore Nordic Centre, Banff’s Heidi Widmer’s ascension to Canada’s Nordic throne became apparent.
By Saturday (Jan. 11), after dominating the qualifiers, heats and finals, the coronation was under way en route to her first ever Olympic Winter Games berth.
Widmer, 22, solidified her spot on the Canadian Olympic team with a dominant performance on Saturday. She finished the final round ahead of Zina Kocher, choking back tears as she crossed the finish line. By the time she saw her inspiration, her older brother Phil preparing for his race, she broke down.
“I don’t know if it’s for real, but I’m just going to enjoy it,” Widmer said minutes after crossing the finish line. “My inspiration was my brother for sure. Being able to go through this with someone is really powerful.”
Widmer’s power dictated the pace through the entire trials race. She was the fastest qualifier and led every heat. Kocher kept her honest in the final, but Widmer was too strong on the final stretch.
“I was definitely on a mission today. I didn’t want anyone getting in the way of that. I believed in my fitness and knew I could control the pace,” Widmer said.
With her family boisterously cheering alongside the final stretch of track, she soaked up every moment and was mobbed by teammates and friends in the finish area.
“I’m just so happy my family is here and my brother is doing so well. I just wanted to enjoy this whole process. I didn’t want to become one of those Olympic-zillas where you look back and that person is a nightmare to be around,” Widmer said. “This dream can happen for anyone.”
Four long years of intense mental preparation, high-level racing and excruciating physical training regimens sculpted Widmer into a cross-country ski phenomenon.
As the country’s most promising young skier with the Alberta World Cup Academy, she’s been heavily touted for years as the leader of Canada’s next generation, and proved it with her gold and silver medal performance at trials. Crawford (who was already pre-qualified for Sochi) took the win in Wednesday’s sprint over Widmer and Kocher. On Saturday, Widmer left no doubt, securing the sprint win over Kocher and Andrea Dupont in the final.
Saturday was a bittersweet day for the Widmers. The family nearly had both of their children reach Sochi, but Phil fell short in the men’s sprint to Jesse Cockney (see story on page 23). Both siblings spoke of their support for one another.
Head coach Justin Wadsworth praised Heidi’s performance under pressure, stating she proved she can compete when called upon.
“She skied out front like she had to. I’m happy for her today,” Wadsworth said.
Widmer joins Crawford, Dasha Gaiazova, Perianne Jones and Emily Nishikawa on the women’s Olympic team. There was discussion between Cross Country Canada and Biathlon Canada about Kocher (who is already pre-qualified for Sochi as a biathlete) joining the team for a distance race. But, since Kocher didn’t compete in the distance events at trials, those discussions have fallen silent. Kocher won the 30-kilometre skate race at the national cross-country ski championships in 2013.
Widmer will now compete at the U-23 world championships in Val Di Fiemme, Italy at the end of the month before heading to Sochi, where she has big plans.
“This is just part one,” Widmer said.
