These blogs are being written later all the time. I think I missed a day.
What an awesome day it was yesterday! Our men's team was able to resurrect what was becoming somewhat of a disappointing short track Olympic when compared to past Games. Charles Hamelin skated an impressive 500 m final, had a near wipe out slide at the finish and struck Gold. The crowd cheered so loud we couldn't hear the bell for the last lap. His girlfriend, Marianne St-Gelais who skated for silver earlier last week, was caught on CTV's broadcast during the whole race. Her enthusiasm was almost more entertaining than Charles Race. Francois-Louis Tremblay get a bronze in the same race. Even if these 2 skaters raced the sprint version of short track 3 times that evening ( quarter, semi and finals) they had to lace them up again as part of the men's biggest challenge of these Games: the 5000 relay. This is the last event and the most anticipated. It is wil, chaotic and has 4 teams of 4 skaters flying around for 45 laps. They exchange at each 1.5 laps by a push that has to be coordinated so the first skater exchanges towards the outside and the others continue as they finish with the last team ( as determined by who's in front and back of the line of skaters going around) exchanging inside. It is always dynamic as skaters start getting speed in the inner circle to be at the right place at the right time. Any mistake can lead to a fall, a delay which makes them unable to catch up and possible disqualification. This evening was even more impressive as France got "advanced" in the finals as someone had interfered with them during a qualification race. 5 teams of 4 skaters. The ice in the turns will look like chopped up railroad tracks by the end.
Canada lead most of the race to an ever increasing volume of cheering from the crowd. They utilized a secret weapon: they exchanged one turn ( I forget which one) at 2 turns instead of the habitual 1.5. They were therefore able to get ahead of other teams caught in exchanges and were able to save a little energy for the last skater: the ever important finisher. Charles almost fell with 2 laps to go and I thought the crowd was going to faint en masse. He caught himself and never lost the lead: they won Gold. A crazy atmosphere blasted off. 2 Gold medals in the evening. A great finish by the ever smiling Charles...unless of course you see his look at the head of the line while skating. Make no mistake, he is all business!
The whole country likely got interested in curling. The women were fighting for Gold and what would become a sad finish for the team, were not able to capitulate in the 10th end. This lead to the 11th end with Canada having the last throw: the hammer ( one thing about these Games is we're all getting familiar with each sport's technical jargon). Again, what would appear to be a routine placement fit for Canada to jump on the Gold ended up in disappointment with a very minor miss. Sweden repeats as Gold medalist having won in Torino. One should be quite proud to have won the Silver medal but there is still a disappointment when one realizes they had all the controllable options to get the Gold medal.
The men are on for their shot at a Gold medal this afternoon.
Our men's hockey team advances to the Gold medal game which basically means most of Canada will stop functioning on Sunday for the duration of the game. This is one event I will try very hard to infiltrate!
Now, about the concept of "we". I have had a lot of experience being part of the health care team for Canada at major Games. At all these Games we are support staff and help the team in all it's health care functions. Many other members of the Mission staff also help the athletes and their teams with all their needs when in the Village. We are not on the filed, the ice or the hill to compete but what happens all the time is a gradual use of the term "we". It is the same in many people who are at home watching these Games. They do it in other countries as well as it is evident in conversations we have. How many of you have said it I'm sure. When Cheryl threw her last rock at the curling match, most here were saying "We lost the Gold." When Canada won against the Slovakian team in hockey, most said "We've won, we're going to the final", "We 're going for Gold". The concept of "we". Sports achieves what many other elements of our lives cannot: it unites everyone. People become "we" instead of "us and them". It's a great feeling to feels that everyone is behind a team. I have heard many excited, cheering people who were jumping up for joy when our curling teams would make impressive shots. A common statement from those same people: "I don't even like curling!!!". It's because it's a sport, we feel connected with the participants and we live the excitement with them.
Tomorrow, everyone will want to say: "WE won the gold!"
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