Lucasmakowsky.com

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1 March 2010: Saskatchewan News, Students celebrate Lucas's gold medal 

1 March 2010: CBC Radio, Sheila Coles and Mme Bobiash talk about Lucas's gold medal skate on Saturday

24 February 2010: CBC Radio newscast feature, Students make video to cheer on Lucas

24 February 2010, 7:30: CBC Radio newscast, Students make video to cheer on Lucas 

24 February 2010, 6:30: CBC Radio newscast, Students make video to cheer on Lucas

22 February 2010: Saskatchewan News, Students cheer on Lucas 

22 February 2010: CBC Radio newscast, Olympic weekend recap and discussion

22 February 2010, 7:30: CBC Radio newscast, Wilfrid Walker adopt an athlete program

22 February 2010, 6:30: CBC Radio newscast, Wilfrid Walker adopt an athlete program

27 October 2009: CTV Olympics podcast, Lucas Makowsky reliving the moment

23 September 2009: CTV Olympics podcast, The drive of Lucas Makowsky

Saturday, 27 March 2010

Lucas Makowsky's old school became a gold school on Friday.

Makowsky, a 2001 graduate of Ecole Wilfrid Walker School, shared his 2010 Winter Olympics long-track speedskating gold medal with staff and students during an afternoon assembly.

"When I got in, I walked by the hallway that had my grad picture in there,'' Makowsky said. "Walking by the fountains that are down around knee height, it's a good reminder of where I came from.''

Click here to read more on Leaderpost.com.

Friday, 26 March 2010

Olympic gold medal-winning speedskater Lucas Makowsky was welcomed back to his alma mater by wildly cheering students who filled the Regina School's gymnasium on Friday.

Makowsky trains in Calgary but has been adopted as a local hero by by students at the Wilfrid Walker Elementary School, which he attended.

Click here to read more on CBC News.

Friday, 26 March 2010

There were nights early in his career when Lucas Makowsky wondered if it was all worth it.

In the middle of the harsh Saskatchewan winter, Makowsky could be found outside skating laps at the Mount Pleasant speedskating oval.

"I can remember some nights where I'd go skate a few laps and have to go inside just to warm up, to thaw out," Makowsky said Thursday after he received the male athlete-of-the-year award at the Sask Sport Awards banquet held at the Conexus Arts Centre.

Click here to read more on Leaderpost.com.

Friday, 26 March 2010

It was a warm welcome home for Lucas Makowsky.

The Regina resident and Olympic speed skating gold medalist was at Wilfrid Walker school in Regina to say thank you for all the support the school showed him during the Olympics.

Click here to read more on Newstalk980.com.

Saturday, 20 March 2010

Canada’s speed skaters had a great Day 2 at the World All-Round Championships, in Heerenveen, the Netherlands.  Lucas Makowsky (Regina, SK) took second place in the men’s 1500m event, boosting him to sixth place overall.  Kristina Groves placed fourth in her two races of the day, and now sits in second place in the overall standings.

Click here to read more on Speed Skating Canada.

Friday, 19 March 2010

Lucas Makowsky (Regina, SK) is currently ranked ninth after the first two events at the World All Round Championships of Long Track Speed Skating, taking place in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. Friday, Makowsky finished sixth in the 500m event, and 11th in the 5000m event.

Click here to read more on Speed Skating Canada.

Monday, 1 March 2010

Lucas Makowsky had a valuable complimentary ticket to the men's hockey final at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

"The incredible things that a gold medal will get you,'' the Regina-born long-track speedskater said with a chuckle on Sunday morning from Vancouver.

Click here to read more on Leaderpost.com.

Monday, 1 March 2010 

Monday, 1 March 2010

The provincial sports community celebrated the gold-medal performances of Regina's Lucas Makowsky and Ben Hebert over the weekend.

Approximately 30 members of the Regina Speed Skating Club (RSSC) watched Makowsky skate to a gold medal Saturday in men's long-track speedskating team pursuit at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Later Saturday, most of the province's curlers watched as Hebert shared in the Kevin Martin's gold medal in men's curling.

Click here to read more on leaderpost.com.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 

Canada has won a gold medal in the men’s pursuit speed skating race.

The squad of Denny Morrison, Lucas Makowsky and Mathieu Giroux just edged the United States team in a thriller of a race that ended the action at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Makowsky said the relay team was ready for the race. "We all have the speed for the 1,500 metres and we were able to build on that," he said.

Click here to read more on thestar.com.

Saturday, 27 February 2010 

Canada’s team pursuit men Denny Morrison (Fort St.John, B.C.), Lucas Makowsky (Regina, SK) and Mathieu Giroux (Pointe-aux-Trembles, QC) beat Team U.S.A’s Brian Hansen, Chad Hedrick and Jonathan Kuck, for the gold medal, Saturday in the final long track speed skating event at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  In the bronze medal final, Team Netherlands were the winners, besting Team Norway.

Click here to read more on Speed Skating Canada.

Monday, 22 February 2010 

Lucas Makowsky was not up to his usual standards in his second race at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The Regina-born speedskater was 19th in Saturday's men's 1,500 metres at the Richmond Olympic Oval, posting a time of one minute 48.61 seconds, while paired with American silver medallist Shani Davis (1:46.10). Mark Tuitert of Denmark won the race in 1:45.57.

"Physically, I wasn't quite feeling the snap that I normally would in the 1,500,'' Makowsky said via telephone from Vancouver. "It was just a tough one.

Click here to read more on Timescolonist.com.

Monday, 22 February 2010

As Olympic lessons work their way into classrooms around the globe - one local school is getting a truly intimate experience. Wilfred Walker French Immersion paired with Reginan speed skater Lucas Makowsky this fall, through the ‘Adopt an Athlete Program’. The school raised 2-thousand dollars for Makowsky and in return the Olympian has been conversing with students through a blog and Skype and even sends the occasional postcard.

Click here to read more on Newstalk980.com.

Sunday, 21 February 2010 

Lucas Makowsky will use his time in the intense glare of the Olympic spotlight as a valuable learning experience.

All eyes at the Richmond Olympic Oval were on the Olympic rookie from Regina on Saturday as he faced off against American star Shani Davis in the final pairing of the men's 1,500-metre long-track speedskating final.

Click here to read more on Metronews.ca.

Monday, 15 February 2010 

Lucas Makowsky is selectively sampling the perks of being an Olympian.

Friday's opening ceremonies were a highlight of the 2010 Winter Olympics, but the Regina-born speedskater was not part of the procession of athletes. He had a long-track race — the men's 5,000 metres — the following afternoon.

Click here to read more on Leaderpost.com.

Saturday, 13 February 2010 

As Olympic debuts go, speed skater Lucas Makowsky couldn't be happier with how he performed in his first time on the sport's biggest stage.

Makowsky kicked off the long-track speed skating competition for Canada by posting the 13th fastest time in the men's 5,000 metres with a time of 6:28.71.

The 22 year-old Regina native said he was thrilled with the performance because it was easily his best ever time on the Richmond Oval.

Click here to read more on thestar.com.

Saturday, 13 February 2010 

Lucas Makowsky (Regina, Saskatchewan) lived his first Olympic experience, and broke the ice with style for Canadian skaters with a 13th place in the men’s 5000m event at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Saturday afternoon, at the Richmond Oval.  Makowsky took 13th place in a time of 6:28.71.

Click here to read more on Speed Skating Canada.

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Lucas Makowsky's presence is still felt at Wilfrid Walker School, from which he graduated in 2001.

The Regina-born speedskater, who is to compete for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, is honoured in Joanna Sanders Bobiash's Grade 7 classroom. The school is supporting Makowsky as part of the Canadian Olympic Foundation's Adopt An Athlete program.

Click here to read more on Leaderpost.com.

Tuesday, 9 February 2010 

Lucas Makowsky has come full circle — or full oval, as it were.

The Regina-born speedskater vividly remembers watching television in his family's living room on July 2, 2003, when the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2010 Winter Olympic Games to Vancouver. Now he is poised to compete in those very same Games.

"The actual Olympic dream really started to form when I was watching the announcement,'' he recalls. "I thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool to compete at the Olympics in your home country?' It wasn't really a light-bulb moment, but that's when I thought to myself, 'That could be a reality.' ''

Click here to read more on Leaderpost.com.

Friday, 5 February 2010 

When Lucas Makowsky steps up to the line, he clears his thoughts and focuses on what’s ahead of him. He blocks out screaming fans, nerves,and the thoughts of others racing next to him. Then he skates with his heart to the finish line.

His career has been the same – a focus on the future and a dedication to getting it done. The upcoming Olympics will be the biggest competition he’s faced, but he’s excited and looking forward to the challenge. “It’s pretty incredible,” said Makowsky. “It’s something I’ve looked forward to for the past couple of years... I’m very happy and excited.”

Click here to read more in the Adrenaline Regina Sports, page 6.

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

So far, it has been a great season for Lucas Makowsky. He raced to his first individual World Cup medal, in the 1500m in Hamar, after which he went on to qualify for the Olympic 1500m and 5000m by finishing first in both distances at the Canadian Single Distances Championships/Olympic Trials in Calgary. On top of that, he continuously managed to improve his personal best times in the 1500m as well as the 5000m over the past few months. With the Olympics just around the corner, Makowsky talks about his season so far and reflects on how he is looking forward to what will be his first Olympic Games.

Click here to read more on speedskating-online.

Saturday, 2 January 2010 

Lucas Makowsky keeps adding to his Olympic itinerary.

The Regina-born speed skater qualified for the men's 1,500 metres on Friday during the Canadian long track team selections in Calgary. He posted a winning time of one minute 44.47 seconds.

Makowsky was already guaranteed an Olympic berth after winning the 5,000m on Monday. His success at 1,500m and 5,000m has also earned him a spot in the team pursuit event.

"It's what I set out to do before these trials,'' Makowsky said Friday from the Calgary Olympic Oval. "There's for sure the 1,500, the 5K and the team pursuit, so winning this one definitely solidifies my position on the team. To come out with the three distances like I wanted to is definitely a good feeling.''

Click here to read more on Leaderpost.com.

Saturday, 2 January 2010 

Humbly speaking, Lucas Makowsky considers himself a master of the fine art of time management.

The University of Calgary student is a virtual Stephen R. Covey clone — seamlessly balancing his studies in chemical engineering and economics with a dream to win medal(s) for Canada at the Vancouver Olympics.

“I’ve got lists, and I definitely use the calendar on my computer to map out exams and competitions,” he said Friday, still trying to catch his breath at the Olympic Oval. “It’s something I’ve excelled at.”

Excellence is a common theme these days for the Regina native with just 41 days to go before the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Games.

Click here to read more on Calgaryherald.com.

Friday, 1 January 2010

Lucas Makowsky and Kristina Groves solidified their spots on the Canadian Olympic long-track speedskating team with victories in the 1,500 metre races Friday.

Makowsky, who won the 5,000 metres on Monday, skated to victory in a time of one minute 44.46 seconds. In addition to these two distances, Makowsky will also likely be a part of the Canadian pursuit team which is expected to be a medal contender in Vancouver.

"It was a really good race, both technically and tactically" said Makowsky. "I was very relaxed going into it, which I liked, but maybe a little too relaxed for how I would have wanted to race it, but it gave me the fight for the end of the race. I got the job done! Winning the 1500m today solidifies my spot on the team, also with the team pursuit, and that's what I wanted to accomplish this week."

Click here to read more on ctvolympics.ca.

Monday, 28 December 2009 

Though Lucas Makowsky may not have had a picture-perfect skate, he won today’s event in a time of 6:24.57 and will be at the starting line come February.  Makowsky edged out Denny Morrison (Fort St. John, B.C.) by 83 hundredths of a second.

“I was in the last pair to race today, I knew the time I needed in order to qualify,” commented Makowsky. “I used that late start to my advantage; though I could have skated better, the most important thing was to qualify,” he confided.  This will be the first Olympic Games experience for the Saskatchewan native; his berth may well also enable him to earn a spot in the Team Pursuit.

Click here to read more on Speedskating.ca.

Monday, 28 December 2009 

There's no shortage of talent and battle-worn experience on the Canadian men's speed skating squad this year. But the man with the hot hand heading into the Olympics just might be the unheralded Lucas Makowsky.

He doesn't have world championships and Olympic medals like Denny Morrison or Jeremy Wotherspoon, but the one thing Makowsky, 22, of Regina, can lay claim to these days is a pretty solid winning streak.

He won the men's 5,000-metre race at the Olympic trials in Calgary yesterday, edging out Morrison and securing a ticket to Vancouver in that event.

Click here to read more on Theglobeandmail.com.

Monday, 28 December 2009 

Lucas Makowsky's Olympic dream was realized on Monday.

Makowsky, a 22-year-old speed skater from Regina, punched his ticket for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games by posting the fastest time in the men's 5,000 metres at the Canadian long track team selections in Calgary.

"(The dream) really came about in 2003 when I found out the Games were coming to Canada,'' Makowsky recalled Monday from Calgary. "It was one of those times when I thought, 'What if I was an athlete competing at home in Vancouver?' That's where that dream started for me.

Click here to read more on Leaderpost.com.

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Lucas Makowsky is no different than any of his family, friends or acquaintances. He grew up green. Steeped in the lore. Born to the colours.

Unable to land tickets for Sunday’s 97th Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium, the 23-year-old Regina speed skater, a chemical engineering and economics student at the University of Calgary, invited a group of friends — even the odd fence-sitter mischievously playing devil’s advocate and openly rooting for those dastardly Eastern interlopers — over to watch the Saskatchewan Roughriders tangle with the Montreal Alouettes.

“We were starting to get a little nervous in the second half, when Montreal began pouring it on,” he admitted Tuesday, during athlete interviews for this weekend’s ISU Essent World Cup speed skating stop at the Olympic Oval. “And then, at the end . . . I mean, how crushing is that? To lose because of too many men on the field.”

Click here to read more on Calgaryherald.com.

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

You could call it the "Makowsky Factor." We're referring to athletes who aren't stars of their team but have the potential to be a Marquis performer at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

That's as in Vincent Marquis, the talented moguls skier who came through with a bronze at last year's world freestyle championships when Canadian favourite Alex Bilodeau faltered.

Seeing 22-year-old Lucas Makowsky win a surprise silver medal last weekend against a strong field in the men's 1,500 metres at a World Cup event in Norway was a reminder of the critical role that unheralded athletes will play in giving Canada its best chance for success next February.

Click here to read more on thestar.com.

Saturday, 21 November 2009

Lucas Makowsky was kicking back in his hotel room in Norway savouring his first trip to a World Cup podium when there was a knock at the door. It turned out to be even better than room service.

Hard to beat earning the respect of your peers, especially when they're of the calibre of world champions Clara Hughes and Kristina Groves, who dropped by to congratulate the 22-year-old from Regina on his first trip to a World Cup podium Saturday in a men's 1,500-metre race at the Viking Ship Olympic oval in Hamar.

Click here to read more on thestar.com.

Saturday, 21 November 2009

Lucas Makowsky (Regina, SK) climbed to the second step of the podium in the 1500m event this Saturday in Hamar, Norway at the long track speed skating World Cup.  Clara Hughes (Glen Sutton, QC) and Kristina Groves (Ottawa, ON) finished fourth and fifth respectively in the 5000m event.

Today’s results mean that Makowsky has now won his first World Cup medal – though he won’t be taking any hardware home this time; “They aren’t giving out medals, only flowers, so I won’t be leaving with a medal, but all the same I won’t forget this moment,” he noted, bemused.

Click here to read more on Speed Skating Canada.

Saturday, 21 November 2009

Lucas Makowsky skated the race of his life Saturday -- and it took nothing short of a record-breaking performance from the man who is atop the speed skating world right now to keep the Canadian from gold.  The 22-year-old from Regina won the first individual World Cup medal of his career, claiming silver in the 1500m event in Hamar. With teammate and 1500m-specialist Denny Morrison resting and training back in Canada, Makowsky stepped in at the World Cup with a lightning fast time of 1:45.40 to put Canada on the podium.

Click here to read more on CTV Olympics.

Monday, 16 November 2009 

After the World Cups in Berlin and Heerenveen, most of the Canadian speed skaters returned to Calgary to prepare for the World Cup that will take place over there December 4-6. A small part of the team stayed behind to travel to the World Cup in Hamar. Lucas Makowsky, Mathieu Giroux and Jordan Belchos enjoyed their last day in the Netherlands by trying to find some Dutch traditions like cheese and oliebollen.

Click here to go to the article on linkit-speedskating.com.

Article in Dutch, but make sure to check out the photos!

Friday, 9 October 2009 

Paint The Town Red is an invitation for all Canadians to join together to cheer Canadian athletes on to victory in 2010. It's a celebration that will take place in communities across Canada, from today straight through the Games.

Lucas was included in the campaign video, so make sure to watch it here!

 Click here for more information on Paint The Town Red.

 Friday, 26 December 2008

Lucas Makowsky looks back on a good start of this pre-Olympic season. Last season he skated most of his World Cup races in the B division, but since the start of this season he not only raced all of his 1500m’s and 5000m’s in the A division, but also managed his first top 10 finish in an individual World Cup distance, and on top of that he was part of the Canadian Team Pursuit team that won a gold medal at the World Cup in Berlin. With the Canadian Single Distances Championships about to begin, Makowsky reflects on his first World Cups of the season and looks forward to what is still to come.

Click here to read more.

Thursday, 25 September 2008 

Last week the Canadian long track speed skating team was in Richmond, BC for a training camp. The Richmond Oval has not been completely finished yet, but thanks to the hard work of all the people involved, the Canadian team was already able to get an idea of what the Olympic Oval will be like in 2010. Among them were Lucas Makowsky, Philippe Riopel and Brittany Schussler, who were all impressed with what they saw.

Click here to read more.

Friday, 15 February 2008  

Lucas Makowsky can look back on some good results at the World All-round Championships that took place last weekend in Berlin. At what was his debut at the World All-rounds, he skated top 10 in the 1500m and placed 11th in the 500m and 14th in the 5000m. After these three distances he was placed 10th overall, but this proved to be not good enough to skate the final distance, the 10k, and consequently he finished 13th overall at the end of the competition. Back home in Canada, Makowsky reflects on last weekend and looks forward to the rest of his season.

Click here to read more.