Looking back at the Vancouver Olympic Games ...
A new sense of Canadian pride
By Kate Winquist
“Canada, our Canada, is truly worthy of our pride and patriotism … We will ask the world to forgive us this time, this uncharacteristic outburst of patriotism an pride, our pride of being part of a country that is strong, confident, and stands tall among the nations.” - Stephen Harper
You couldn’t have written a better script. When Sidney Crosby scored to give Canada a 3-2 overtime victory over the United States in the men’s gold medal match, he left a country delirious with excitement and started the party that closed out the 2010 games.
The gold medal, which was Canada’s 14th of these games set a new Olympic record for the most gold medals by any country - and also a record for most gold medals by a host nation. All-in-all Canada recorded 26 medals putting them in 3rd place behind the United States and Germany.
The 2010 games were marked with the highest of highs and the deepest lows. The death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was the darkest moment of the games. The opening ceremonies were marred by a malfunction in which one of the four cauldrons didn’t rise leaving torch bearer and speed skater, Catriona LeMay Doan hanging, unable to light the flame with her torch. Less than perfect weather at both the Cypress Mountain and Whistler ski venues delayed events.
Despite the rocky start, the games bounced back with some amazing performances by the athletes. Canada got on track with Alexandre Bilodeau’s gold medal run in the Men’s Moguls. The gold rush continued with Maelle Ricker winning the ladies snowboard cross, and Christine Nesbitt claiming the ladies 1000m speed skating crown. It will be hard to forget Jon Montgomery’s gold medal in the men’s skeleton. The red-headed Montgomery hit the streets of Vancouver celebrating with a toque on his head and a pitcher of beer in hand. The Russell, Manitoba native even made an appearance on Oprah. Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue won the ice dancing competition becoming the first North American skaters to ever accomplish that feat. The pair have been skating together since they were 7 & 9 years old. Shaunavon’s sweetheart, Hayley Wickenheiser, claimed her 4th Olympic Games medal (3rd gold) when the Canadian Women’s Hockey team defeated their arch rivals from the United States 2-0. Kevin Martin’s curling team finally won the elusive gold medal, going undefeated in the Olympic tournament. Unfortunately the women’s curling team skipped by Cheryl Bernard couldn’t make their last shot and had to settle for the silver medal. Speed skater Charles Hamelin captured two gold medals in one day in the 500 m short track and the 5000 m relay.
There are so many moments that are etched in my memory, perhaps none more so than Joannie Rochette, the figure skater who captured the hearts of the nation with her bronze-medal performance in the grief-stricken days following the death of her mother. Rochette showed so much courage and strength to compete when it would have been easy for her to pack it in. Rochette was chosen to be Canada’s flag bearer at the Closing Ceremonies.
And what a Closing Ceremonies it was! The world was shown our sense of humour from the get-go when in a parody of the technical failure during the Opening Ceremony, a clown came out to assist LeMay Doan in lighting the 4th Olympic Cauldron in the center of the arena. There were celebrity performances from William Shatner, Michael J. Fox and Catherine O’Hara as well as musical performances from Nickleback, Avril Lavigne and Alanis Morisette. There were even dancing canoes, red-clad lumberjacks, floating moose and giant inflatable beavers. Can’t get more Canadian that that, eh?
It was a magical 17 days that encompassed an entire nation. This was not just Vancouver’s games ... it was Canada’s games - 17 days that made believers out of a lot of Canadians.
The 2010 Winter Olympics certainly have made a believer out of me.
Originally published in the Gull Lake Advance 2010