So, I started this blog thing a year ago thinking that I would be a part of the paralympics that are happening in a few weeks but things changed and I'm obviously not going to be. haha
That's okay though. I was pretty psyched to be watching Dev and doin' it up here in Vancouver. Exciiiiting.
It's funny because there was so much anger leading up to these Games. People were so mad that their city was being overrun, the transit was going to to be hell, the streets impassable, no parking downtown, and on and on and on. Blah blah blah. Yes, there were issues that should be dealt with - DTES, poverty, health care, education, I know... I don't have answers for that... I'm not even educated enough on any of it to make a call.
Then the Games were here. Smiles formed on faces. Patriotic fires grew deep in chests. Temporary tattoos appeared on grinning cheeks.
Yes, some were still unimpressed, others disinterested but it seemed like they were few and far between as supporters poured into the city.
My favourite part was when the Olympic fever snuck up on the unaware and suddenly they were running down Granville screaming til they were hoarse, faces painted with a familiar leaf, flags as capes, high-fiving everyone in sight. It was beautiful. Nice to see people letting loose, being proud of their athletes, their city, their country. Canadians not apologizing for being good at something. Fourteen gold medals. The most any country has ever won. Own the Podium, that's what our goal was and I personally think it was achieved. Who cares if you didn't get quantity. Look at the pool the US can choose from. We were quality, which I think is more important.
The one that I'm most proud of is my brother. He worked so hard and with every hour of training I'm sure in the back of his head was a little voice chanting 'Olympics, Olympics.'
Because for every kid in sports, this is the pinnacle of showing success. Sure, you can go win World Championships, you can medal in World Cups but most people will never see, never know because we are a hockey nation and if it's not happening on the ice, there are few that take the time to get interested.
I've been told that when you walk into that stadium and there's a crowd of people roaring for you - not because they know you're good but because you're theirs - you get this feeling of belonging. The embodiment of Jon Montgomery's fist pumping wells up inside you and you just want to raise your arms Gladiator-style knowing the crowd will respond in kind.
Your chest fills with pride when someone from your country is competing. Doesn't matter if you don't know them. Doesn't matter if you don't follow their careers. They are Canadian and they are here to compete and here to win. You get to be a part of this snapshot of their athletic career. They are the top of the pile and they are going to fight tooth and nail because this is the big show. This is what it's all about. And yeah, sometimes they win, sometimes they don't. That's okay. Kurt Browning, one of the greatest figure skaters in the world, never won a medal at the Olympic Winter Games despite appearances at three Games. He was a four-time world champion but just couldn't crack that top three at the Olympics. That's okay. Like so many athletes, he came, he competed, he represented Canada. So many looked up to him. Athletes are good for that. haha
I don't remember how old he was, but I remember Dev being adamant that he was going to the Olympics. People have asked me whether it's strange to see him on TV, whether it's surreal that he's there. Not really. He belongs there. He's one of the fastest men in the world and it doesn't matter if it's a 1.4 k sprint or a 50 k marathon of a race, he is right in there fighting even after a week and change of racing. He is so good at it but he is so hard of himself when he's not on the ball. He's more stubborn and has more guts than anyone I know. My mind always seems to wander back to Prefontaine.
1.6 seconds out of gold. After 50 k. How ridiculous is that?
Sochi, anyone?
