Finally, a win for Canada Alexandre Bilodeau grabbed the Canadian flag and thrust it in the air, effortlessly lifting his country in the process.

All the training. All the money. All the pressure to deliver an Olympic gold rush on home soil.

With one frantic dash down Cypress Mountain on Sunday, Bilodeau owned more than the podium, he owned the moment, one that will forever be etched in Canadian history.

The 22-year-old from Montreal stunned defending Olympic champion Dale Begg-Smith in the men's moguls finals, blistering the course in 23.17 seconds to post a score of 26.75 and win Canada's first Olympic gold on home turf. Bryon Wilson of Butte, Mont., was third.

"It's just the beginning," Bilodeau said. "There will be more gold winning and I'll be in the stands cheering for them."

It'll be hard to top the party on Cypress after Bilodeau stormed to victory, ending 34 years of Canadian frustration. Children cried. People hugged. Canadian flags sprouted everywhere, including halfway up the mountain by an Olympic volunteer.

- Posted on February 15, 2010