Oh, to own the Olympic podium again ...
Congratulations, Canada’s Olympic team! You just followed up your
country’s greatest sporting moment, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, by
finishing tied with Uganda, Uzbekistan and Grenada in the gold-medal count at the 2012 London Games!
The greatest reality show in history closed yesterday with all the drama one could imagine. (I really hope they book it for another season). Canada at this Olympics did itself proud in winning medals with humility and losing medals with grace.
But here's the thing. Canada would never amount to much knowing we don't have the same advantage as we do in the Winter Olympics. The summer Olympics has a lot more competition and makes it a little harder to qualify knowing we're not on snow or ice. The fact that we won more bronze is a bit heart breaking, but we can certainly do better than one gold. If Canada stays committed to the cause of building a better elite-sport infrastructure in the four years until the Rio Olympics, the likes of Uganda and Uzbekistan and Grenada should be very afraid.
These games proved a lot. But the performance at this year's games wasn't about standing on top of the podium and hearing our anthem, (of course, that's what we would've liked to hear.) but looking deeper into the each and every performance our athletes gave that make us the country of who we are. We had defeats, but with those defeats, we had recovery and chances to recuperate quickly. We witnessed that it was either all or walking home with nothing and having known we gave it our all.
When questionable calls were blamed for the Canadian soccer team's crushing semi-final loss to the United States, we took to Twitter and I bet for a fact, our country was a trending topic. For a moment, I thought this would probably be the highlight of our participation.
We weren't cheering; we were far from it. After all, it wasn't the medal our team was fighting to win. But that didn't mean we had to give up. We had to still prove ourselves in the bronze medal game. And we overcame and came out on top. Even without the gold, we were a country united.
And that goes for the rest of the medal winners;
The men's eight rowers who finished last in their heat but managed to advance remarkably to battle out for at least a silver medal; Brent Hayden, the 100-metre freestyle swimmer who made up for a disappointing finish at Beijing 2008 to capture bronze at his final Olympic Games; Mark Oldershaw, who suffered disappointment in 2008 but returned four years later to win a bronze medal in Men's 1000m canoe sprint.
And who could forget about Toronto’s Rosie MacLennan, the Olympic trampoline champion, for capturing Canada’s first and only gold-medal at the games. But of course, there was a little controversy over who should carry the flag at the closing ceremony. But without a doubt, Twitter responded and supported the soccer star, who was later confirmed by the Canadian Olympic Committee to put the flag in the soccer forward's hands. (Pictured above)
And for London, it was a memory to share for a lifetime.
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said in his remarks to the thousands who jammed Olympic stadium, "These were happy and glorious Games." And London 2012 organizing committee chair Seb Coe said "We lit the flame and we lit up the world."
They promised a party.
They delivered.
To close out the games, in his final thoughts, Brian Williams, host of CTV Olympics' coverage, said these were an Olympics of transition with many Canadian athletes making their final appearance, as younger athletes stepped up for the big time.
"I take away the bronze in judo, the bronze in high jump, marathon swimming, and how about that fifth place finish in the decathlon. Most important, not one of them over than 23," Williams said.
And before that, the cauldron was extinguished, only to soon be lit again for the next games.
Canada's 18 medals matches our medal haul at Beijing 2008, although in those Games, Canadian athletes won more gold and silver.
Total medals
1. USA: G 46, S 29, B 29, Total: 104
2. CHINA: G 38, S 27, B 23, Total: 88
3. RUSSIA: G 24, S 26, B 22, Total: 82
4. GB: G 29, S 17, B 19, Total: 65
--
11. CANADA: G 1, S 5, B 12, Total: 18
No, it wasn't Vancouver 2010, or any aspect of what Canada has been known to accomplish at the games. We weren't on the leader board, but that doesn't mean we didn't give one hell of a performance. And if the London's Games proved anything, it is not because of the medal count; it's about the participation and country representation.
Jennifer Lukas of CTV Olympics says;
Credit: Jennifer Lukas - CTVOlympics
The greatest reality show in history closed yesterday with all the drama one could imagine. (I really hope they book it for another season). Canada at this Olympics did itself proud in winning medals with humility and losing medals with grace.
But here's the thing. Canada would never amount to much knowing we don't have the same advantage as we do in the Winter Olympics. The summer Olympics has a lot more competition and makes it a little harder to qualify knowing we're not on snow or ice. The fact that we won more bronze is a bit heart breaking, but we can certainly do better than one gold. If Canada stays committed to the cause of building a better elite-sport infrastructure in the four years until the Rio Olympics, the likes of Uganda and Uzbekistan and Grenada should be very afraid.
These games proved a lot. But the performance at this year's games wasn't about standing on top of the podium and hearing our anthem, (of course, that's what we would've liked to hear.) but looking deeper into the each and every performance our athletes gave that make us the country of who we are. We had defeats, but with those defeats, we had recovery and chances to recuperate quickly. We witnessed that it was either all or walking home with nothing and having known we gave it our all.
When questionable calls were blamed for the Canadian soccer team's crushing semi-final loss to the United States, we took to Twitter and I bet for a fact, our country was a trending topic. For a moment, I thought this would probably be the highlight of our participation.
We weren't cheering; we were far from it. After all, it wasn't the medal our team was fighting to win. But that didn't mean we had to give up. We had to still prove ourselves in the bronze medal game. And we overcame and came out on top. Even without the gold, we were a country united.
And that goes for the rest of the medal winners;
The men's eight rowers who finished last in their heat but managed to advance remarkably to battle out for at least a silver medal; Brent Hayden, the 100-metre freestyle swimmer who made up for a disappointing finish at Beijing 2008 to capture bronze at his final Olympic Games; Mark Oldershaw, who suffered disappointment in 2008 but returned four years later to win a bronze medal in Men's 1000m canoe sprint.
And who could forget about Toronto’s Rosie MacLennan, the Olympic trampoline champion, for capturing Canada’s first and only gold-medal at the games. But of course, there was a little controversy over who should carry the flag at the closing ceremony. But without a doubt, Twitter responded and supported the soccer star, who was later confirmed by the Canadian Olympic Committee to put the flag in the soccer forward's hands. (Pictured above)
And for London, it was a memory to share for a lifetime.
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said in his remarks to the thousands who jammed Olympic stadium, "These were happy and glorious Games." And London 2012 organizing committee chair Seb Coe said "We lit the flame and we lit up the world."
They promised a party.
They delivered.
To close out the games, in his final thoughts, Brian Williams, host of CTV Olympics' coverage, said these were an Olympics of transition with many Canadian athletes making their final appearance, as younger athletes stepped up for the big time.
"I take away the bronze in judo, the bronze in high jump, marathon swimming, and how about that fifth place finish in the decathlon. Most important, not one of them over than 23," Williams said.
And before that, the cauldron was extinguished, only to soon be lit again for the next games.
Canada's 18 medals matches our medal haul at Beijing 2008, although in those Games, Canadian athletes won more gold and silver.
Total medals
1. USA: G 46, S 29, B 29, Total: 104
2. CHINA: G 38, S 27, B 23, Total: 88
3. RUSSIA: G 24, S 26, B 22, Total: 82
4. GB: G 29, S 17, B 19, Total: 65
--
11. CANADA: G 1, S 5, B 12, Total: 18
No, it wasn't Vancouver 2010, or any aspect of what Canada has been known to accomplish at the games. We weren't on the leader board, but that doesn't mean we didn't give one hell of a performance. And if the London's Games proved anything, it is not because of the medal count; it's about the participation and country representation.
Jennifer Lukas of CTV Olympics says;
...from Connaughton to Oldershaw to MacLennan and flagbearer Sinclair, they can return home with dignity, pride and their competitors' and compatriots' respect. And, if their performances in London are any indication, a burning desire to do better. Rio de Janeiro is just four years away.Be sure to check out Buzzfeed's most memorable 2012 Olympic moments.
Credit: Jennifer Lukas - CTVOlympics
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