Freestyle Skiing

Frédéric Bilodeau shot his fist in the air as a score flashed across the jumbo screen at the men's moguls event at Cypress Mountain.

There was one more competitor left to ski - the formidable Guilbaut Colas of France - but he seemed to know already what Canadians would soon discover: his younger brother, Alexandre, had become an Olympic champion.

After the French competitor's run was over, Alexandre Bilodeau jumped in the air and raised his fist, the mirror of his sibling. Later, the 22-year-old's voice caught when asked what it meant to have Frederic in the stands when he become the first Canadian to ever to win Olympic gold at home.

"It's really getting me right now," he said. "My brother has been an inspiration for me. Growing up with a brother that's handicapped, you learn so much."

At home in Montreal, Bilodeau was always lightning quick, a natural athlete who excelled at hockey then devoted himself to freestyle skiing. Frederic, five years older and slowed down by cerebral palsy, did not begrudge but his brother but instead became his biggest supporter.

"It puts everything in perspective. If I have the chance to train, I'll take it. Even if it's raining, I'll take it. He doesn't even have that chance," Bilodeau said. "He has all the right to complain. And he never complains."

Bilodeau, who was last year's World Cup overall champion, had struggled to find the podium going into the Games. The clear favorite was 2006 Olympic champion and World Cup leader Dale Begg-Smith of Australia, but his final run down the 250 metre course was slightly slower than Bilodeau's run, and that made the difference.

"I skied the way I wanted to ski. That's all that I can control," said Begg Smith, who grew up in West Vancouver a short drive from the Olympic venue, but left at age 15 after Canadian freestyle ski officials objected to him pursuing an Internet business he founded with his brother. The business has earned the brothers millions; their defection cost Canada a gold medal in 2006.

The bronze medal went to American Bryon Wilson, who at the start of this season had an outside chance of even making the American Olympic team. The next two spots were taken by two Canadian skiers, part of the strongest group of Quebec freestyle skiers since Jean-Luc Brassard won gold in Lillihammer Games.

Twice before, moguls skier Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau of Drummondville, QC, has traveled to Olympic Games only to watch his teammates from the stands.

After his final run was over, the 30-year-old covered his face with both hands then thrust them into the air. He turned and faced the crowd, pointed to the corner of the stands where his family was sitting.

"They bought tickets in 2002. We were watching together in 2006," said Rousseau, who finished 5th. "Can you imagine that?"

Weeks before the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, Rousseau broke his neck in a wild crash during a training session. He was ranked third in the world at the time. Four years later, he again had a firm grip on an Olympic berth, but caught mononucleosis.

Like Rousseau, Vincent Marquis was considered an outside medal hope for Canada. He looked crestfallen after his qualification run, which put him in 13th place going into the finals; a tough spot in a judged sport where the best marks are often saved for the top seeded skiers who race toward the end. He said he wanted to speak to his younger brother, Phil, a development team skier who despite a five-year age gap is his closest confidant - someone to tease or play pick-up games of hockey in hotel rooms during long road trips on the World Cup circuit.

"He's been at my back for so long. So if I can do anything to help him I will." said Phil.

Marquis rocketed down the course in the finals, recording one of the fastest times of the day, pumping his fists and revving up the crowd. He finished just off the podium in 4th place. Maxime Gingras, a rookie Olympian, qualified for the finals in 6th spot but settled for 11th.