This winter's Olympics down in Vancouver were something else! I have never been so proud in my entire life to be Canadian. Not only did we achieve in getting 26 medals total, but we also received the highest amount of gold medals (14) to ever be won on home ground! That is truly inspiring and surely bonded the nation together as a whole through one major event.
The athletes who participated did amazingly during the games! The majority of them showed absolute sportsmanship, while others... well... I know it must be disappointing to not get the rank you felt you deserved, but seriously, some of them really surprised me.
My absolute favourite moments of the entire two and a half weeks of pure fun and absolute stress:
1. Alexandre Bilodeau: The first Canadian to win a gold medal on our own home soil! His performance was spectacular, but his story was even better! Doing what he does best for his brother, now that is inspiring in many ways. To be able to have such a close connection with a sibling or any other family relative and make them your central point of motivation... amazing.
If we could have photos in our dictionaries, Bilodeau would be an excellent definition of "the most loving brother" :)
2. Shaun White: I don't really care that he's American or the fact that he was sponsored by Red Bull and had his own half pipe made out in the hills of Colorado. He wasn't always this "rich and famous" (forgive my terrible pun).
For those who didn't know, White grew up in a childhood that wasn't always as easy going as most of ours were. As children, we took our lifestyles for granted where White couldn't. But being supported by the best family he had, he was able to build up a career around skateboarding and snowboarding! He worked his hard off to get to where he is now, and for that, I admire his constant motivation to keep practicing what he does best and defending his title with gold. I read a comment on another network where someone actually had the nerve to say that Shaun didn't deserve gold simply because he had his own half pipe to practice on and was sponsored by a huge company.
Are you serious? That's like being signed up for a swimming competition and not knowing how to swim. What do you think all those athletes did before the Olympics? Lounged around? Wow, the obliviousness. "He shouldn't get the gold because he had his own half pipe to practice on"... well I don't see you getting up on a snowboard and making a name for yourself. Let's hope for a three-peat when Sochi rolls around.
3. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir: Now if Canada wasn't already proud of our athletes, these two definitely just blew Canada's mind away!
What a graceful and absolutely phenomenal program!! I have never seen two people skate so comfortably and confidently! If these two were nervous, well guess what, none of us saw it! I guess it helps when you've been skating together for over 13 years, but still. I have never been so mesmerized by such a performance! I was so happy to see that these two had won the gold because to be honest, I didn't see how any other couple could top what these two had done! The best part was that they even left the commentators speechless! Now if that doesn't say something on it's own, well, then we've truly lost all perception of art with this particular sport.
4. Sidney Crosby - Canada's Men's Hockey (Canada vs. USA): "And it's 3:2! Crosby just scored Canada a GOLD!" CROSBY! CROSBY! CROSBY! Officially Canada's hero of the entire game :) Although I think it was a joint effort on the entire team and I believe the entire team (and Canadian athletes) should be considered heros. But, because Crosby was able to get that puck to slip past Miller during OT, well, he just went national.
That's a lot to take in from someone who was born and raised in Nova Scotia. Starting off small and joining the junior hockey team in Montreal, being shipped off to the States and then representing Canada... to only then become the nation's favourite player. That is one hell of a lot to take in. In fact, it's a lot to take in for all our athletes and the athletes world wide! But, props go out to Luuuuuoooooooooooo :P what would we have done without him?
Although the only thing I didn't enjoy from the outcome of this game (which btw gave me a heart attack and nearly made me pass out at the same time) was how we have some Canadians making photos poking fun at the States. Seriously? That is ridiculously immature and beyond low! The States played a fantastic game too! Yes they may have beaten us the Sunday before but that is absolutely disgusting! Ryan Miller is an exceptional goalie and was given MVP! So cut the crap because what these photos are doing is only hurting Canadians by giving us the exact title of complete assholes!
5. And last, but not the least... Joannie Rochette: Nothing can express what the world feels for her. Her programs were absolutely phenomenal and she did them so gracefully despite the current situation she was in. RIP Mme. Rochette, my heart goes out to Joannie and her entire family.
Given the title of model/athlete idol was not enough to even come close to describing the strength and motivation she had to continue in these games. Although she was still on the podium receiving her bronze medal, I think it's safe to say that everyone thought she deserved gold. I wish her all the best for her upcoming dreams and competitions, and pray for her family and herself included to stay strong through these tough times.
Needless to say, she kept the entire nation on edge yet the entire nation kept her motivated and will continue to support her :)
I believe.
Cheers,
C.
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