Notable Olympic Gold Medal Performances

Ok, the Winter Olympics in Vancouver are over. And what an exhilarating Olympics it was!!

Being from Canada, I gotta say there were 3 big highlights for me…

1. Canada getting their very first ever Gold Medal on home soil – It took 3 Olympics before we finally did it… Montreal Summer Games in 1976, Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988 and Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. And Alexandre Bilodeau won the men’s moguls in Vancouver breaking new ground. … after he won the gold, it was like breaking the 4 minute mile barrier – the Golds gushed in and Canada ended up with the most gold medals out of any country – 14 Gold Medals and finished 3rd in overall medals with 26. The U.S. had 9 Gold medals and 37 overall medals for the#1 spot overall.
2. Joannie Rochette’s courageous performance in the Women’s Figure Skating Competition. Her mother passed away shortly after flying in to Vancouver to see her perform. Joannie took the ice and skated a near-flawless short program and came back the next night and skated a near perfect long program to finish on top of the podium with the Bronze medal. This is the highest placing a women figure skater from Canada has done since 1988. For anyone that has lost someone so dear to them, this is a tremendous accomplishment to have the energy, passion and focus to perform. Well done Joannie. I applaud you. Savour the moment, your mother is proud and mourn her loss. And speaking of loss, it was also sad that the Georgian luge hopeful Nodar Kumaritashvili passed away in practice runs before the Games opened. Rest in peace and may God give peace to your family.
3. The final big highlight, and am I ever relieved to see this one… is when Canada won a close battle with a very worth opponent USA in the Men’s Gold Medal Hockey Game. I got so much flak from the guys I play hockey with after the US beat Canada in the preliminary rounds. It was the best thing that happened to Canada since it got them pissed off and laser focused. They played much inspired hockey and gelled as a team after that loss. So, I can rest for the next 4 years that Canada has the BEST hockey program in the world!!! :)

There are so many athletes that were a joy to watch. Shameless confession, I watched many of the curling matches and was on pins and needles watching Canada defeat Norway for the Gold – I did fall asleep several times as the tape delay didn’t show the match until around midnight. My wife laughs at me that I actually like that sport AND watch it. You may be saying “is Curling even a sport?!!!”

So, no matter what you are facing in life – high’s or lows, work everyday for your Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal, which is how you live your life. Because whether you realize it or not, there are eyes that are easily influenced that are watching you.

Be great eh!

Chris.