CALGARY, Alberta -- Stephen Colbert's Canadian-bashing isn't

sitting well with at least one American speedskating star.

"He's a jerk," Shani Davis said Thursday when asked for his

take on the comedian's criticism of Canadians. "You can put that in

the paper."

Davis declined to elaborate, making the comment while vetting

potential questions from The Canadian Press before rejecting an

interview request and walking away.

Stephen Colbert has used his show to aim some barbs at Canada, while picking up on complaints that Vancouver Olympic officials have been limiting international athletes' access to 2010 facilities. Brad Barket/Getty Images for Comedy Central

Davis has ties to Canada from training out of Calgary in the

past, and has also had past differences with U.S. Speedskating,

which is now being sponsored by the comedian who hosts the "The

Colbert Report."

Publicists for Colbert did not respond to requests for comment.

Colbert stepped into a void for the American skaters after the

team was left with a $300,000 shortfall when Dutch bank DSB

declared bankruptcy and pulled out of its sponsorship.

He put up a

fundraising link on his Web site -- a similar plan helped raise

hundreds of thousands of dollars for wounded American soldiers and

their families -- in exchange for becoming the skating body's

primary sponsor.

Soon after, Colbert used his show to aim some pointed barbs

north of the border, while picking up on complaints that Vancouver

Olympic officials have been limiting international athletes' access

to facilities for the 2010 Winter Games.

"Those syrup-suckers won't let us practice at their Olympic

venues," Colbert said. "At the Salt Lake Games, we let the

Canadian luge team take 100 practice runs."

The issue of access to the Richmond Olympic Oval is one that

resonates with the U.S. skaters, although they're more diplomatic

about it than Colbert.

"It's the Olympics, the point of the Olympics is to bring the

whole world together and by doing that they're kind of separating

themselves off from the world," said rising U.S. star Trevor

Marsicano. "... It's the way it is. I'm not going to complain about it."

Veteran Chad Hedrick feels the same way.

Shani Davis has had differences in the past with U.S. Speedskating, now being sponsored by the comedian who hosts the "The Colbert Report." Bendiksby, Terje/Getty Images

"I think everybody should have equal rights to train on the ice

as much as they can," the Olympic champion said. "I don't know

how it's been in past Olympic Games, I've only been to one Olympics

and maybe when it was in Salt Lake the ice time was more favorable

to Americans, I don't know. ...

"But that's part of the game."

Hedrick and Marsicano appreciate Colbert's support, though neither was particularly familiar with his show on Comedy

Central before he came on board.

Hedrick hopes Colbert's fans will help bring more exposure to

and increase the profile of a sport that repeatedly leads the way

in terms of medals won by Americans at Winter Olympics.

"We're really fortunate that he jumped on board. It's a great

situation for us," Hedrick said. "We needed it financially. It's

a great opportunity for U.S. Speedskating to provide things for the

athletes that they wouldn't be able to provide without him. ...

"As successful as we've been at the Olympics, a lot of people

are unfamiliar with speedskating in America. And the money doesn't

hurt at all."

Marsicano agrees and is looking forward to an expected team

visit from Colbert at next week's World Cup stop in Salt Lake City.

"He's a good thing for U.S. Speedskating," Marsicano said.