Heading into the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, many Canadians would have probably been satisfied to be celebrating one home gold medallist by the time the closing ceremony came around.
However, with numerous events still to be completed ahead of the final day of competition on February 28th, Canada has already enjoyed seven golds to go alongside four silvers and two bronzes to sit in fourth spot in the overall medal table.
Some 244 gold medals were handed out across the Summer Olympics in Montreal in 1976 and then at the Winter Olympics 12 years later in Calgary, but none of them went to Canadian competitors.
However, any hopes of this continuing across a third Olympic Games quickly came to an end when Alexandre Bilodeau surged down Cyprus Mountain to post the best score in the men's moguls.
Alongside ensuring his name gained a place in Canadian history, the 22-year-old also inspired many of his countrymen and women to perform strongly in their respective events.
Maelle Ricker was next to step onto the top of the podium after leading from start to finish in the final of the ladies' snowboard cross.
Ricker arrived in Vancouver as the world leader in her event based on World Cup standings and surged out of the gate to defeat France's Deborah Anthonioz.
Since, Christine Nesbitt has sealed success in the ladies' 1,000m speed skating event, Jon Montgomery raced to victory in the men's skeleton, Ashleigh McIvor emerged triumphant in the ladies' ski cross and Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse took women's bobsleigh gold.
Meanwhile, Tessa Virtue and Scott Muir claimed a first ever victory in the ice dance competition, skating to Gustav Mahler's "Symphony No. 5".
There has still been some disappointments along the way as the much-fancied Manuel Osborne-Paradis could only come 17th in the downhill at
Whistler and Mellisa Hollingsworth finished fifth in the women's skeleton.
On the flip side, there remains positives to look forward in the quest for further gold medals. The Canadian women take on the US in the ice hockey final, while the men are in the semi-final of the same event after beating world champions Russia.
Written by Chris Smith
