Michael Douglas (skeleton racer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Douglas is a Canadian
skeleton racer
who has competed since 2006. He played football and competed in track whilst at University in Toronto, and at the age of 30 he was discovered by racer Pascal Richard
. He competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics
but was disqualified before his first run for failing to remove the covers off the runner guards of his sled.
, Ontario
and went on to play Canadian football
for the University of Toronto
as a cornerback
. He gave up football after a year of acting as backup to the first team and moved onto athletics instead, a decision he says he has since regretted as the football team went on to win the Vanier Cup
three years later, with a team that featured several players who too were backup players when Douglas was on the team.
spotted Douglas playing soccer and suggested he try skeleton
instead, resulting in Douglas starting to race at the age of 30. He started on the European circuit in 2004, and moved to the World Cup circuit in 2007. He failed to qualify for the 2008 team by two tenths of a second, resulting in him being removed from the team. He returned in the 2009–10 season, taking the place of Keith Loach
, who he beat again in a two race runoff to join Jeff Pain
and Jon Montgomery
in the Olympic team
.
Whilst racing on the track used in the 2006 Winter Olympics
at Cesana Pariol
in Italy, he was part of a Canadian team holding all three top spots. However after the second run through, Douglas dropped into the fourth place where he finished.
At the 2010 Winter Olympics
he placed in fifth position following the first run, but his second run was slower resulting in him going into the final run in seventh place and was considered to be in the running for a bronze medal. Douglas spoke of his runs, "That second run was not very good for me, I’ve been generally consistent here, and that (second result is) not where I want to be. So we’ll clean it up tomorrow and hopefully get up on the podium."
However he was late removing the runner guards off of his sled by three minutes in the parc fermé (a holding area for the sleds prior to the race), and was disqualified from the race. Warmer sled runners can cut through the ice on the track faster, Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
(FIBT) spokesman Don Krone explained, "The reasons the runners need to be uncovered is so that they're all at the same ambient air temperature, It's a standard procedure at every single skeleton competition, so the procedures are well known. It's not something different for the Olympic Games." Teammate Jon Montgomery went on to win the gold medal.
As of the end of the 2010–11 season, Douglas is ranked 13th overall according to the FIBT rankings making him the second highest Canadian competitor. This included a season high placing of 6th at St. Moritz
, Switzerland, where he beat Olympic champion Jon Montgomery.
at the Foothills Medical Centre
in Calgary
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
skeleton racer
Skeleton (sport)
Skeleton is a fast winter sliding sport in which an individual person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down, during which athletes experience forces up to 5g. It originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland as a spin-off from the popular British sport of Cresta Sledding...
who has competed since 2006. He played football and competed in track whilst at University in Toronto, and at the age of 30 he was discovered by racer Pascal Richard
Pascal Richard (skeleton racer)
Pascal Richard is a Canadian skeleton racer who competed from the late 1990s to 2002. He finished 15th in the men's skeleton event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City....
. He competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
but was disqualified before his first run for failing to remove the covers off the runner guards of his sled.
Early life
Douglas was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and went on to play Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
for the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
as a cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
. He gave up football after a year of acting as backup to the first team and moved onto athletics instead, a decision he says he has since regretted as the football team went on to win the Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
three years later, with a team that featured several players who too were backup players when Douglas was on the team.
Skeleton racing
Skeleton racer Pascal RichardPascal Richard (skeleton racer)
Pascal Richard is a Canadian skeleton racer who competed from the late 1990s to 2002. He finished 15th in the men's skeleton event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City....
spotted Douglas playing soccer and suggested he try skeleton
Skeleton (sport)
Skeleton is a fast winter sliding sport in which an individual person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down, during which athletes experience forces up to 5g. It originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland as a spin-off from the popular British sport of Cresta Sledding...
instead, resulting in Douglas starting to race at the age of 30. He started on the European circuit in 2004, and moved to the World Cup circuit in 2007. He failed to qualify for the 2008 team by two tenths of a second, resulting in him being removed from the team. He returned in the 2009–10 season, taking the place of Keith Loach
Keith Loach
Keith Loach is a Canadian skeleton racer who has competed since 2005. His best World Cup finish was eighth at St. Moritz, Switzerland in January 2009.-Reference:...
, who he beat again in a two race runoff to join Jeff Pain
Jeff Pain
Jeff Pain is an American-born, Canadian skeleton racer who has competed since 1995. He is regarded as one of the most successful male competitors in the history of the Canadian skeleton program...
and Jon Montgomery
Jon Montgomery
Jonathan Riley "Jon" Montgomery is a Canadian skeleton racer who has competed since 2006. He won the Gold Medal in the men's skeleton event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.-Career:...
in the Olympic team
Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Canada hosted and participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Canada previously hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Canada sent a team of 206 athletes , including participants in all 15 sports...
.
Whilst racing on the track used in the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
at Cesana Pariol
Cesana Pariol
Cesana Pariol was the venue for bobsled, luge and skeleton during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The track, built for the games, is located in Cesana...
in Italy, he was part of a Canadian team holding all three top spots. However after the second run through, Douglas dropped into the fourth place where he finished.
At the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
he placed in fifth position following the first run, but his second run was slower resulting in him going into the final run in seventh place and was considered to be in the running for a bronze medal. Douglas spoke of his runs, "That second run was not very good for me, I’ve been generally consistent here, and that (second result is) not where I want to be. So we’ll clean it up tomorrow and hopefully get up on the podium."
However he was late removing the runner guards off of his sled by three minutes in the parc fermé (a holding area for the sleds prior to the race), and was disqualified from the race. Warmer sled runners can cut through the ice on the track faster, Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
The Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing or International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation is the main international federation for all bobsleigh and skeleton sports...
(FIBT) spokesman Don Krone explained, "The reasons the runners need to be uncovered is so that they're all at the same ambient air temperature, It's a standard procedure at every single skeleton competition, so the procedures are well known. It's not something different for the Olympic Games." Teammate Jon Montgomery went on to win the gold medal.
As of the end of the 2010–11 season, Douglas is ranked 13th overall according to the FIBT rankings making him the second highest Canadian competitor. This included a season high placing of 6th at St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
, Switzerland, where he beat Olympic champion Jon Montgomery.
Personal life
When not racing, Douglas is a radiologic technologistRadiologic technologist
A radiologic technologist, also known as medical radiation technologist and as radiographer, performs imaging of the human body for diagnosis or treating medical problems...
at the Foothills Medical Centre
Foothills Medical Centre
Foothills Medical Centre is the largest hospital in Alberta, Canada and is located in the City of Calgary. It is one of Canada's most recognized medical facilities and is one of the leading hospitals in Alberta, providing advanced healthcare services to over two million people from Calgary,...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
.