With Nova Scotia’s paddlers grounded yesterday, David Sharpe made sure his province still made the podium.
The Halifax swimmer captured his second gold medal in as many days at the Canada Games, winning the 100-metre backstroke at the CARI Aquatic Centre in Charlottetown.
It was the province’s lone medal after it won 13 on Tuesday, courtesy of a 10-medal showing by sprint canoe-kayak athletes. The paddling finals were postponed yesterday because of windy conditions on the Northwest River.
Nova Scotia is fifth with 20 medals, two ahead of Saskatchewan.
“Our (province’s) best medal count was 47 (in 2001) so it’s definitely a whole team effort to try and top that,” Sharpe said afterward. “I’m just trying to get as many as I can to contribute and try to keep up with the paddlers.”
Sharpe, a Dalhousie-bound standout who will carry the Nova Scotia flag at the closing ceremonies, won in 53.91 seconds, 0.78 of a second faster than Ontario’s Nick Karpov.
He also won the 200 butterfly on Tuesday and is a medal contender in today’s 100 butterfly and 200 backstroke.
“I’m excited to win two medals but I need to refocus,” said Sharpe, who holds a dozen provincial records. “I need to finish off the meet with the same energy I started it off with.”
The men’s golf team is also having a strong week at the Games. Nova Scotia is tied for third with Ontario and has a chance to hit the podium today with a strong final round.
In other action, the women’s volleyball team and men’s soccer team have qualified for the quarter-finals.
