March 22, 2012 (Mont Ste-Anne, QC) – Crawford is back. Even after an exhausting season on the World Cup circuit that included bronze and silver medals Chandra Crawford flew to a 3:17.15 time over the 1.4km course topping the qualifications, followed by Sophie Caldwell (Dartmouth College) at 1.89 seconds back. Crawford’s teammates Perianne Jones and Daria Gaiazova were 4.83 and 5.55 back – and that’s the position in which they stayed as the Canmore speed queen blew through her heats to take gold.

During the semis Crawford was up against her little sister Rosanna from the Canadian biathlon team. Sisterly love ends when the start gun goes and Chandra showed why she can so dominate this event.

Looking fresh, though she had arrived late into Quebec City only two nights earlier after five grueling months in Europe that included splitting up with long-time live-in boyfriend Devon Kershaw, the two-time Olympian was ready for some fun.

“Everybody falls down,” quipped Crawford after taking the gold, “It’s how you get up.” The Crawford sisters also found out their mother was fighting breast cancer this winter, but being back in Canada on these particular trails has been great tonic for them.

“Here on these trails with the legacy of Alex and Pierre (Harvey), it’s just so nice to be here. It’s just awesome racing in Quebec. There’s a spirit in Quebec—a passion for the sport,” Crawford continued.

A big plus for Crawford was knowing that her Fast & Female event at MSA was run successfully without her having to be there. Six days earlier approximately one hundred girls attended the Fast & Female session. “I’m really glad Fast and Female went well. I see the girls here wearing their Fast & Female shirts,” added Crawford, who started the immensely popular program to keep girls interested in a lifetime of sports. Crawford was smiling but she admitted it was a rough winter.

“As soon as I took off from Scandinavia I could put distance between myself and the World Cup,” said Crawford. “It was the hardest winter ever – breaking up with Devon – I felt really dead for a month. Eventually I got tired of feeling sad, and I made the classic final at the World Cup.”

She knew she was “feeling better” when that happened. Clearly Crawford, as always, has risen to the challenge as fans lined up to take in her non-stop smile – that started on the finishing stretch as she skied clear of the pack.

The final saw a tight bunch as the six skiers came through the stadium, but as they left the short loop before heading back into the final stretch Gaiazova made her move.

Crawford countered and switched into her powerful skate that can be so unbeatable. Gaiazova answered but couldn’t stay with her. It was Crawford, Gaiazova, U.S.A.’s CXC Elite skier Jenny Bender, Craftsbury’s Ida Sargent – who made the final even with a crash in the heats – Norway’s Britt Ingunn Nydal and Larch Hills’ Alysson Marshall, who took the bronze on the championship podium as the third Canuck.

Full results HERE.