Manuel Osborne-Paradis has revealed that although the weight of Canada may be currently resting on his shoulders, the pressure he places on himself is far greater, the Independent reports.The 26-year-old is one of Canada's chief contenders for a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics with the country never able to celebrate an event victor at the Games on home soil.
Osborne-Paradis' best hope of success seems likely to be in downhill discipline, in which he picked up two World Cup victories in 2009.
He remains optimistic that he can follow up on these triumphs at Kvitfjell and Val Gardena with a third win at Whistler.
According to the news provider, Osborne-Paradis said: "Of course there's pressure, you have to get used to it. If you can't deal with it then you are in the wrong business. There's no more pressure than the pressure I put on myself. It's just a race – a huge race, but just a race.
"I have never skied this well before. I am in a really good space of mind. I have been getting better year after year."
The Canadian also claimed a super G victory in the Lake Louise World Cup stop in 2009.
Written by Chris Smith