Skip to content

Ricker collects her gold medal

A group of Maelle Ricker’s high school friends did their part to give the Canadian snowboarder an even brighter piece of the spotlight at the Olympic medal ceremonies.
Maelle Ricker
Canada's Maelle Ricker celebrates her gold medal win for snowboard cross during a medal ceremony at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver

VANCOUVER — A group of Maelle Ricker’s high school friends did their part to give the Canadian snowboarder an even brighter piece of the spotlight at the Olympic medal ceremonies.

They held up six large letters — complete with lights — spelling out Ricker’s first name and proudly waved them to the adoring crowd that feted their hometown champion at B.C. Place on Wednesday night.

The thousands of fans in attendance stood up and let out a thundering roar when Ricker walked out on stage with fellow snowboard-cross medallists Deborah Anthonioz of France and Olivia Nobs of Switzerland.

Ricker, who lives in Squamish, B.C., but grew up in nearby West Vancouver, sported an ear-to-ear grin and waved to the crowd. It was a rock star-like moment for the 31-year-old snowboarder, who won gold a day earlier at Cypress Mountain. Fans waved flags, cameras flashed and the din made it hard to hear the announcer’s call of the athlete names.

Ricker said she knew her teammates and family members were on hand but couldn’t quite make out their faces in the sea of red and white. She knew they were close to her high school friends who were proudly waving the large ‘Maelle’ letters in the air.

“The first time they had that sign was at the world championships up in Whistler in 2005 and they didn’t have lights then,” Ricker said afterwards, still aglow from the experience. “But sometime between then and now they’ve been installed.”

Ricker kissed the medal shortly after it was hung around her neck and proudly held it up for all to see. While other medallists became misty-eyed during the evening ceremony, Ricker kept her emotions in check. She joined the crowd in a rousing version of O Canada as the Maple Leaf was raised.

“I think my Mom shed enough tears for the two of us,” she said.

Ricker wore her red Canada jacket, gloves and a hat during the ceremony. She said the experience was overwhelming.

“When you walk through the curtains even, the change in noise level was absolutely amazing,” Ricker said. “Walking out there and being in the Canadian uniform was breathtaking.”

There was a buzz in the air outside too as fans later filed out of the stadium.

Ricker kept looking down at the medal as she spoke with reporters.

“It feels incredible,” Ricker said. “Wow, it’s beautiful. It’s a beautiful piece of art and there are so many people behind this medal.

“It’s wonderful.”