Time to celebrate
Posted Mar 5, 2010 By EMC News
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Tweet ThisEMC Editorial - We can breathe again, finally. And celebrate.
The angst felt by so many across this country over our overall medal count midway through the Winter Olympics in Vancouver melted away over the final few days. A gold rush the likes of which have never been seen at any time in Winter Games history turned what some had started to dread into a remarkable achievement that won't soon be forgotten.
With just eight total medals through the first eight days, the "Own the Podium" goal was already being set aside. The Americans' lead in the standings would be too great to overcome. Some, prematurely as it turned out, were even calling the program a failure.
Cue the proverbial floodgates. Gold in men's skeleton, figure skating, bobsled, short track and long track speed skating, snowboard and ski cross and of course, hockey, helped engineer a national explosion of pride. We may never be the same again.
In many respects, our near obsession with the medal count was both encouraging and a little disturbing. Encouraging because for so many years, Canada simply accepted the results, mediocre as they were, without much fuss. Today, we at least care to the point we are willing to invest in programs that not only support elite athletes, but encourage more of us to get out and exercise. Such financial commitment has proven worthwhile and should continue.
But our reaction, particularly at the midway point, was disturbing given the fact our athletes, even when missing out on the medals, were performing well. Certainly, there were some hiccups in the opening week. But who will forget the look of joy on Alexandre Bilodeau's face as he realized he'd won the men's moguls freestyle skiing event, Canada's first gold medal won here at home? Or the power of Ottawa's Kristina Groves willing herself to bronze and silver in long-track speed skating? And who didn't jump out of their seat when Sidney Crosby beat American goalie Ryan Miller in overtime to give Canada the win in men's hockey, a perfect cap to a remarkable Games, setting a new benchmark for gold medals won by a country in a single Olympics at 14.
If these past two weeks have taught us anything, it's that it doesn't have to be all about the medals. The commitment and sacrifices of so many of the athletes, and their ability to perform under tremendous pressure on the world stage is what should be the gauge for success. And something to truly celebrate.
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