Kearney: Turin heartache spurred me to moguls gold

From Ryan Bangs, Sportsbeat, in Cypress Mountain

 HANNAH Kearney admitted it took the performance of her life to defeat Jennifer Heil and claim moguls gold in Vancouver, and insisted it had been a long time coming.

LONG TIME COMING: Hannah Kearney (c) celebrates her moguls victory and admits her Turin nightmare spurred her to gold (Getty Images)

Kearney collected a lifetime best score of 26.63 in the final to edge out Canadian rival and defending champion Heil, who had applied considerable on pressure on Kearney - who was last to compete, having topped the scores in qualifying.

But whereas the American, crowned world champion in 2005, buckled under the pressure in Turin four years ago when making her Olympic debut, Kearney produced a flawless run to rain on Heil's parade.

Heil, the penultimate competitor had chalked up a score of 25.69 to take the lead with just Kearney to go, but the American confirmeded she was not prepared to let gold slip through her fingers.

"I knew I would have to put in the ski of my life after Jen's run before me - I didn't know how well she did but I felt the approval of her fans," she said.

"She is an unbelievable competitor and I am glad she put in a good run because it means more to me to come out on top when others are performing at their best.

"I have worked so hard and this been goal for the past four years.

"It is my highest score ever and the qualification run was key to my success. In some ways it was redemption for the absolute failure of Turin.

"It took me a while to get over Turin, I felt like I had let down my country and I was embarrassed about seeing my friends.

"Today it crossed my mind, of course it is there, it is part of my career but everything happens for a reason."

As far as Heil was concerned, Kearney had clearly not read the script. Such is the schedule for the Vancouver Olympics that Heil was considered the favourite to capture the first Canadian gold of the Games.

Indeed it would have been the first ever home Olympic gold for Canada, having failed to top the podium at Montreal 1976 and Calgary 1988.

The weight of expectation was plain for all to see, but Heil refused to take anything away from Kearney's performance.

"I definitely feel I had a few gaps in my final run but there was no doubt I was going for gold," added Heil.

"There was so much competition and Hannah skied fantastically - that is what the Olympics are all about.

"As I said from the start I know much hard work goes into winning Olympic gold and Canadians can be assured gold is coming on home soil.

"We have such a strong team and have never been so prepared - I am very proud to be Canadian.

"There was no doubt I was going for gold, that was in my sights but I truly feel I won silver and not lost gold."

AS IT HAPPENED: Day two of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

IN PICTURES: Hannah Kearney collects women's moguls gold