March 18, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – What a difference 0.1 second made in Collette Bourgonje’s life on Thursday. That was the margin between her bronze medal and Olena Iurkovska’s fourth place on a race course softened up in stunning, sunny conditions.

The gold went to Belarus’ Liudmila Vauchok, who finished in 14:56:6. German skier Andrew Eskau took silver, 15.8 seconds back, while Bourgonje was 23 seconds back. Iurkovska was 23:1 behind in 4th and her teammate Lyudmyla Pavlenko was 27:9 seconds behind for fifth position. It was an extremely competitive race with the top eight skiers all within one minute of each other. Monica Bascio of Team USA was tenth at 1:41:9 minutes behind.

“I was very scared,” said Vauchok after her race. “I was particularly scared to get out of the track because the turns were so icy and I didn’t want to fall. But my skis were working very well.” She added that while she knows she, “always works very hard for every race”, she has “a lot of respect for my competitors.”

Bourgonje had her trademark hundred-watt smile after the flower ceremony. “I’m happy. It’s great to compete in Canada. I am glad for the support we have. Sport is so powerful and I think these Games have shown that. They’ve drawn our nation together and it’s increased the quality of life for disabled athletes. The legacy of these Games will be phenomenal.”

Bourgonje said her best training partner, and the real reason she is doing so well at these Games is her dog Muskqa, who is a sheppard cross with boarder collie. “To go outside with my dog – he’s the best training partner I’ve ever had. You look at his brown eyes and you know what he wants to do.” She also attributed the new strapping system in the chair, part of her racing apparatus, to her partner George who “replaced the duct tape” that used to hold her in.

Full results here.