Deep breath.....big sigh.....So the London 2012 Olympics are officially over, and I'm a little bit heartbroken. It's only been a day and I miss it soooooo much! I woke up this morning and had zero reason to turn the TV on. No excitement or news about medals or crashes or drama. TSN was showing something about fishing, and a man appeared to be trying to make a fish ejaculate (he was rubbing it, stuff came spurting out, I don't wanna know). I nearly cried. It was awful. The Olympics are such an inspiring, amazing, emotional, magical time (for me anyways. I'm aware some people couldn't give a crap if they were paid to). The following is just a collection of random reflections. They don't tie together to form a cohesive whole. I promise :)
I was disappointed with the selection of Christine Sinclair as Canada's flag bearer for the closing ceremonies. I understand I am almost certainly in the minority here, but I just still feel her class and leadership were lacking after that loss to the U.S. If I was Rosie MacLennan, Canada's LONE WINNER OF A GOLD MEDAL, who comported herself with nothing but sweetness and class throughout the Games (and incidentally, someone NOT under investigation and pending discipline from her governing body),
I'd be pissed. Except I think Rosie MacLennan is probably far nicer than me, and definitely too nice to think this way.
Speaking of lone gold medals, there has been speculation in the media about Canada's performance at the London games, and why there weren't more gold medals. Well, it's likely because the most we've had at any single games in the past 20 years has been 3. We're not a summer games nation, though apparently there are steps being taken to change this. In the run-up to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Canada launched a program called "Own The Podium", an umbrella program intended to groom and develop athletes to get to the top of their respective sport, through greater funding and access to resources such as nutritionists, physical therapists, coaches and specialists, sports psychologists, etc. It has received some credit for Canada's earning more gold medals than any other nation at Vancouver 2010. It is now under some scrutiny for the lack of gold medals in London. But I think some very important stories get lost in the disappointment about a lack of hardware. All the athletes who set personal bests, or even defied the odds to merely compete in their events at all. The women's gymnastics team finished 5th in the team competition, the highest ever, behind gymnastic powerhouse nations such as the U.S, China, Russia, and Romania. Pretty amazing. Damien Warner, Canada's entry into the men's decathlon, set personal bests in ALL TEN EVENTS. He finished 5th overall, but what more could anyone possibly ask from him? Paula Findlay, a triathlete who was a gold medal threat until an unfortunate injury last year, competed in London and despite being in obvious pain, completed the entire race. She finished 52nd out of 52 competitors, but she finished. On a bad hip. No one watching her cross the finish line could be anything but inspired and amazed. So the medal count most certainly doesn't reflect the performance of the Canadian Olympic team as a whole. Nor will the medal count be hastily fixed by a quick injection of cash. If Canada wants better results, they have to be prepared for a long term investment.
Something else I got to thinking about while watching the Olympics as the events wore on, was the idea of what constitutes a sport. During both the synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics competitions, watching these smiling, sparkling, heavily made-up girls doing breathtaking and acrobatic feats, I started thinking, anything based so much on aesthetic, and that comprises an artistic score component, is likely not a sport. Which is not to take away from the incredible athleticism and skill these girls possess, or to suggest what they do isn't unbelievably difficult. Because it is. But are they sports where you should be able to win a medal over someone else because you looked prettier displaying your incredible athleticism? In a word, no. They are not. In the same way dance, or yoga, or cheerleading are not sports. Are they difficult? Of course! Do you need to be super fit and skilled? Absolutely. But they're not sports. Thus I'm not sure I agree with their inclusion in the Olympics.
I don't have a real talking point to what I'm about to say other than just to make mention of it. Women accounted for fully 50% of Canada's medals at the Olympics this time, and I hope this in some way encourages little girls to get (and stay) involved with sports. I was hugely involved in sports in high school, and it's just so hugely beneficial in the right environment.
In watching the opening ceremonies 2 weeks ago, there was a very, very small group that marched in under the Olympic, rather than a national, flag, and it sparked a great deal of curiousity. They were termed "Independent Olympic Athletes", who came from nations whose Olympic Committees were either dissolved, or in the case of Guor Marial, a marathon runner from South Sudan, not yet formed. It's a truly inspirational story amongst many at the Olympics, and is just such a shining example of perseverance and principle. I had said to my mother while we were chatting about the Olympics that I have NO idea what constitutes a good marathon time, or if he had any chance of contending for a medal, but I said it would just be lovely if he was able to finish. And he did, in 47th place, with a time of 2:19:32. Awesome.
Also, I LOVED the Spice Girls at the closing ceremonies. That was about all I loved, but I loved it a lot.
Hope you all have a wonderful week, and are dealing with your post-Olympic existence as best you can :)
I realize what I'm about to say could be slightly polarizing, but here it is. As a Canadian, and a huge Olympic fan, obviously I was disappointed by the results of the women's soccer game against the U.S. We're not known as a strong soccer nation (yes, yes hockey is more our thing), and the ladies scrapped their way all the way to that semi-final game. What made it even worse was losing it to the U.S, which we kinda hate. And unfortunately, we lost in concert with some questionable officiating. What was even more disappointing than all of this, was the reaction of the Canadian team (and coach) in the media. Anyone who watched that game or knows soccer knows some of the calls made against Canada were shady. The players know they were shady. Other officials I'm sure found them less than legitimate. But there is nothing to be gained by alluding to the media that the game was fixed and the result soooooo unfair. It's not how internationally competitive athletes deal with adversity, and it makes the team look like whining, sour-grapes, poor losers. Bitching to the media will not get the result overturned, or suddenly move you forward to the gold medal game, or send a big neener-neener the way of the US. If the questionable calls had gone the other way, would you be wondering out loud later if the match was rigged? No. You'd be saying you worked hard and earned your victory. Christine Sinclair even went so far as to sarcastically criticize the referee's conduct as being "real classy." Oh the irony is so delicious it must be fattening. Of course emotions were high, and the disappointment was huge. We all felt it. The team poured their heart into that game, and Christine Sinclair was masterful, scoring all 3 of Canada's goals. But leave the naked speculation to people in the stands, or in their living rooms. Members of the Canadian team now face possible discipline from FIFA, soccer's governing body, but after they play the bronze medal game against France. It was a poor day for sportsmanship as it reflected on our country, the consequences of that remain to be seen I suppose.
We have come upon Miz Becca's very favorite time of year (well, technically every 2 years): The Olympics. Summer or winter, I love them both, there are just more events I get excited about in the summer ones. My personal favorites are gymnastics, beach volleyball, synchronized diving, trampoline, water polo, and swimming (though towards the end of the week, one truly has had enough of it). My least favorite stuff to watch includes boxing (my grandmother would be so disappointed), cycling of any variety, but particular the long distances, tennis, and equestrian (I'm sure just because I don't understand it). Racewalking makes me want to wet my pants, it's so hilarious to watch. Which is not to suggest I think there's not a HUGE amount of athleticism involved in it (these people walk MUCH faster than a lot of people jog), they just look like a cluster of Gumbies while doing it. And the color commentary is to DIE for ("What a brilliant display of walking!!!!"). Anyways I'm currently too engrossed in the men's 10,000 metres to write something as involved as I would normally do in this circumstance, so I've elected to go with a bullet-point list (in no particular order) of things that have particularly plucked my Olympics heartstrings:
- watching the women's 10,000 metres and seeing the Ethiopians and Kenyans start to lap the white people (this was more amusing than heartwarming)
- the first gold won by a Canadian athlete, Rosie McLennan on the trampoline.
Such a sweetheart.
- the amazing finish by the Canadian women's gymnastics team. They've never qualified for a team final before, and they finished 5th. Amazing.
- the fact that there's a Chinese trampolinist named Dong Dong. For real.
- Gabby Douglas winning the all around gold medal in women's gymnastics. A fierce competitor, and a smile that could light up the world.
- This Ryan Lochte article.
- Jessica Zelinka's abs. And arms. Seriously.
- the Canadian women's soccer team putting on such an amazing show, even knocking out the hosting British.
- the Royal family showing up at SO many events! I love William and Kate, they've so put a new and improved face on the Royal institution.
- South African swimmer Chad Le Clos' father giving this interview to the media. It just really reminds you how many people support and love and sacrifice for the athletes who end up competing in the Olympics.
- CTV's Difference Maker video about Dylan Armstrong and his Russian coach Anatoly Bondarchuk. They were making dinner together, Dylan making this huge plate of roasted vegetables, and his coach taking a steak, dousing it in vodka and cooking it almost black. A little too Russian lol
- 80,000 people singing along to God Save The Queen as Jessica Ennis won her gold medal in women's heptathlon. Goosebumps.
- South Africa's Oscar Pistorius not only competing, but advancing in, the men's 400 metres. It's so remarkable, and he's so patient and sweet continually answering the same bloody questions from the media over and over again.
- And perhaps my favorite of all, US swimmer Nathan Adrian. I don't see what all the fuss about Ryan Lochte is.
This is in no way everything amazing I've seen or read about, but it's the highlights so far. I hope you are all enjoying the Olympics and getting swept up in your respective country's fervent nationalism for another week ;)
