Every Picture Tells A Story

Sometimes, you really do get to write the final chapter exactly the way you wanted to, with the happiest of endings.

Perhaps you saw the touching feature CTV aired earlier today about moguls skier Alexandre Bilodeau and the special relationship he has with his older brother, Frederic. While Bilodeau came into the Vancouver Games as a prime medal prospect, it's pretty clear he considers Frederic the true champion in his Quebec household.

Bilodeau, it could be said, wouldn't be where he is today without his brother. He started out playing hockey but switched to skiing as a youngster because it was more accessible to Frederic, his "best friend."
Doctors told Frederic he wouldn't walk past the age of 10 but at 28, he's still defying the odds today. "That's such an inspiration," Alexandre said of the determination his brother shows each and every day.

When Bilodeau was down about his performance at the 2006 Torino Olympics, it was Frederic who reminded him just how special it was to even compete at the Winter Games and that he'd achieved a goal he'd set for himself at the beginning of the year. But Frederic knew even better things were to come in Vancouver.

"He's going to win the Olympics!" Frederic said of his brother.

And there he was in the front row at Cypress Mountain tonight, leading the cheers as Alexandre stood on the top of the moguls run with a chance to make history. Would he be the one to end Canada's wait for a gold medal at a home Olympics, a drought that lasted all the way back to Montreal 1976? (we're the only host country to come up empty on the gold front at the Olympics; we also baked a donut at Calgary 1988).

We didn't have to wait long to find out. Bilodeau blasted his way down the hill with breath-taking speed, posting a score that was a scant 0.17 points better than defending Olympic champ Dale Begg-Smith, the Canadian ex-pat who now represents Australia.

There was still Guilbaut Colas of France, the top finisher in qualifying, to come. But in the end, it wasn't close and a nation erupted with golden glee right along with the roaring crowd at Cypress. But it's a safe bet that Bilodeau noticed right away who had his hand thrust in the air with the No. 1 sign, cheering louder than them all.

"It's really getting me right now," Bilodeau said afterward when asked about Frederic, his eyes clearly tearing up. "My brother is my inspiration. Growing up with a handicap puts everything into perspective. He has taught me so much in life."

And now Bilodeau has showed the gang wearing the red maple leaf that it is possible to dream big at home, then go out and make it happen. He is certain his gold will be the first of many for a country to celebrate.

"The party's just starting for Canada," said Bilodeau.

What a ride it figures to be.