Scott Russell

Extraordinary Canadian Olympians

2010-03-01T00:36:08Z

On the last day of the Games it all became clear to me. ]]>
I was in the presence of the Olympians, athletes with skill and drive who have the ability to work magic and restore faith.

People like 27-year-old Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont, who raced his heart out in the cross-country marathon only to finish fifth and miss a medal by six-10ths of a second. Kershaw's result was the best ever by a Canadian in this event. He more than held his own against the legendary European giants of Nordic sport.

A sidebar to Kershaw's tale rested with Brian McKeever, the teammate he bumped from the race's starting lineup. McKeever, a visually impaired athlete, was hoping to become the first Paralympian to compete at the Winter Olympics.

"It hurt when the coaches told me I wouldn't be racing. Almost as much as it did when I found out I was losing my sight," McKeever lamented. "I came here to race not to be a spectator."

His was a huge disappointment.

It was a very human reaction from an Olympian who lives to excel.

The thing with Olympians is that outwardly they resemble the rest of us. They come from small towns and loving families and are built in a variety of shapes and sizes. What distinguishes them is an ability to express incredible talent and grace in a pressure filled crucible on the international field of play.

No better illustration exists than Joannie Rochette, the figure skater who survived the sudden death of her mother mere hours from the biggest moment of her life. Rochette soared to a bronze medal and delivered the most inspirational performance of the Olympics.

She is a remarkable young woman, the girl next door if you will, with the ability to conjure up a heroic act.

"I cannot begin to understand what she is going through," marveled bobsleigh gold medallist Heather Moyse of Summerside, PEI. "Her mother is gone now. Joannie was left to honour her memory with her performance and she did."

The Canadian men who captured precious hockey gold here received the lion's share of the attention and that is understandable. We live in a country where supremacy in that sport is a vital element to the people's sense of worth.

But we should never forget that all of the Olympians who graced the stage in both Vancouver and Whistler have been an equally enormous part of the story at these Games. They have fashioned a legacy of achievement for generations to come.

From across the country, they are our neighbours, our friends, our sons and our daughters. Together they reflect the great potential of the nation's youth and suggest there is hope for a bright and productive future.

These Canadian Olympians are ordinary people, it's true, but they have proven they are capable of creating extraordinary memories.

The kinds of things we'll never forget.

Puck gods and wonder women

2010-02-25T17:13:11Z

Canada loves hockey. So far the dramatic journey of the national men's team at these Olympics has more than made that apparent. Our collective obsession, affection or whatever you want to call this fascination with a frozen team game has been cemented in glorious fashion. ]]>
So far the dramatic journey of the national men's team at these Olympics has more than made that apparent. Our collective obsession, affection or whatever you want to call this fascination with a frozen team game has been cemented in glorious fashion.

But equally as heartening has been the public's response to the wonderful women who are leading the way at the home Olympics.

Already more than three quarters of the medals won by Canadian athletes at these Games have involved women. Skaters, skiers, hockey players and even daredevils in bobsleighs have performed to resounding ovations and over the moon admiration.

The flag bearer, Clara Hughes, has demonstrated incredible fortitude in finishing her illustrious career with a sixth medal from both the Winter and Summer Games. She stakes a claim to go down in history as one of the greatest Olympians of all time. Period.

Then there's figure skater Joannie Rochette whose personal tragedy has turned into a triumph of the human spirit. No moment at these Olympics can surpass her courageous odyssey on Pacific Coliseum ice. It will be remembered forever with overwhelming emotion.

And the women of Canada are so gracious and glorious in their victories. They positively beam as they greet massive crowds that have awaited their arrival for hours as they did in the Whistler Village Square following gold and silver in bobsleigh.

They wave, linger, sign autographs and dance with their adoring fans basking in the well-deserved but unaccustomed limelight.

"I feel so lucky," said silver medallist and pilot Helen Upperton. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. It is such a privilege to be here," beamed her teammate Shelley-Ann Brown.

And sharing a craft to win gold was a pilot from the foothills of Alberta who got a push from her Prince Edward Island friend. Heather Moyse of Summerside put it all in perspective.

"We knew we were in this together," Moyse said. "We knew we were supported by everyone regardless of the results."

Calgary's Kaillie Humphries heaved a sigh of relief and allowed herself a gigantic, beautiful smile. "Anything can happen at any time, especially here," she gasped.

And it already has.

At these Olympics Canadians are waiting with bated breath for the hockey gods to work more magic. The wonder women of this country have already delivered the goods.

Own the Podium: Lost in translation

2010-02-23T20:43:27Z

The intent of Own the Podium was to have Canadian athletes be competitive at the home Olympics. That's why about $120 million has been invested over the past five years. ]]>
Mission accomplished.

As of the completion of Day 12 Canada boasted 11 medals, six of them gold and another 18 fourth or fifth place finishes. The results have come in almost every one of the disciplines from figure skating to cross-country skiing and all the sports in between.

Where Own the Podium has gone awry is in the interpretation of its message. Strangely, the moniker for a strategy to support high performance athletes from this country has taken on a jingoistic connotation. The tone has been slightly aggressive and Own the Podium has become a buzz phrase that when poorly translated, actually runs counter to the ideals of the Olympics.

One of the founders of the modern Games, Pierre de Coubertin, envisioned a higher purpose for this international gathering. "In the Olympics as in life the most important thing is not the victory," de Coubertin wrote. "The most important thing is the struggle ... the taking part."

The goal of the Own the Podium program has been noble indeed. It has been designed to support Canadian athletes who were notoriously undervalued by an affluent country that fancied itself full of youthful potential. In other words, Canadians should excel in winter sport and contend for championships at an Olympics staged in this country.

It is right to be ambitious and competitive.

But to try and "own" something as elusive as the most medals at the Olympic Games can be characterized as being boastful and a challenge which, if not delivered upon, is seen as a failure.

Own the Podium is anything but a failure. It is a plan whose translation to the Canadian public has been flawed.

Canadian athletes are achieving at an exceptional level. They are racing and playing on even terms with the best in the World. The medals will come and besides, no amount of money, science or coaching can assure success in the fickle arena of the Olympic Games where anything can happen.

Own the Podium is a good plan but it's the wrong name.

We should understand that Own the Podium is really all about a concerted and consistent pursuit of excellence by all Canadian athletes.

Too bad something got lost in the translation.

Life, death and the Olympics

2010-02-22T04:35:36Z

Joannie Rochette must be devastated and emotionally drained in the wake of her mother Therese's death.
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But Joannie, as difficult as it may be, should take heart because she is not alone.

The country mourns with her and now supports her agonizing decision to leave the Olympic city or remain to take part in the Games.

There is more than one precedent in Canadian history for this kind of an occurrence at a critical time. Perhaps Joannie Rochette can draw some comfort and strength from those who have gone before her.

In 1992, one week before the Barcelona Olympics, favoured synchronized swimmer Sylvie Frechette endured the suicide of her fiancé Sylvain Lake. Frechette chose to compete at the Games and ended up winning the gold medal in spite of a judging controversy.

Just two days prior to the Winter Olympics of 1998 in Nagano, hockey player Danielle Goyette's father, Henri-Paul, died from complications associated with Alzheimer's disease. In her first game, just three days later, Goyette scored three goals and added an assist as Canada began the tournament with a victory against Japan. The Canadians went on to win a silver medal and Goyette remained with the team to win gold medals at both Salt Lake in 2002 and Torino in 2006.

Perseverance in mourning

Finally, and most recently, there is the case of swimmer Brent Hayden. The week before he competed at the world championships in Melbourne, Australia his beloved grandfather Perry Anderson died of old-age back in British Columbia.

"I visited him on his death bed before I left for Australia and promised I'd win the gold medal for him," Hayden recalled Sunday in Whistler, B.C.

"It was the last thing I thought about as I got up on the blocks and began my swim. I just remembered the promise I made him and didn't want to let him down. I didn't care how much it hurt I was going to deliver on my promise to him."

It ended up that Brent Hayden made good by winning the gold medal in the 100-metre freestyle at those world championships and was true to his word.

It is a tragic set of circumstances and for Joannie Rochette the timing could not be worse. But she has to know that there is a way to survive this.

Joannie must have faith that she is not alone and that her mother is so very proud of her as she readies for her time on the great stage of the Olympic Games.

The Golden Rule at the Olympics

2010-02-20T20:35:26Z

It is strange how the blink of an eye can change things forever.

For skeleton slider Jon Montgomery seven one hundredths of a second separated him from the rest of the Canadian athletes in Whistle ]]>
For skeleton slider Jon Montgomery 7-100ths of a second separated him from the rest of the Canadian athletes in Whistler.

That miniscule sliver of time meant he became a revered gold medal champion while others were left to consider opportunities missed and the thin line that will soon mean a continued obscurity in their lives.

But even though not everyone can be the winner of a gold medal, or any medal for that matter, there are a champion's qualities that come to the fore if you pay attention to what the athletes say when it's all over.

Erik Guay is a case in point.

He missed the podium by a mere 3-100ths of a second in the Super G. Guay made an error at the third gate. It was a slight stumble that he believes cost him the Olympic championship. It's something he can never take back and it's doubly difficult to accept knowing he missed a medal in the same race at the Games of 2006 by a similar margin.

"It's a hard pill to swallow," Guay admitted. "But I made a mistake and I take full responsibility. If anything it makes me hungry to push ahead to the next Olympics in 2014. I'll be there."

Taking the blame is a tough thing to do when you're that close to glory. Erik Guay did exactly that by resolving to be better next time instead of making an excuse for a near miss.

For Jon Montgomery the circumstances were very different but the rules he lives by are strikingly similar to Guay's.

"This is Canada's gold medal for sure," explained Montgomery after claiming first place in the skeleton by less than a tenth of a second over a Latvian rival.

"It belongs to my parents as well. They raised me and instilled in me the attributes of an athlete who can perform at the right time and achieve his goals."

Then Montgomery went on to thank his sponsors and the people in Calgary who operate the track he trains on as well as the Own the Podium program that has funded his Olympic dream.

"All of these people have a piece of this medal," stressed Montgomery.

It is enlightening to listen to the athletes in the aftermath of their performances. While some have succeeded and others have not they are, as a rule, distinguished by their grace and generosity of spirit.

You might say that most Olympians live by their own golden rule.

In victory and in defeat it is best to share the credit and accept responsibility for the outcome of every race.

Three wise Olympians

2010-02-17T18:06:28Z

All this talk of "Owning the Podium" is a distraction from what's really happening at the Olympics.
Yes, the fascination with winning is healthy and something to be expected for fans of home country athletes. But failing to recognize the performances of those who haven't claimed a medal is something to be avoided.

There is, after all, a lot to be said for the struggle and the integrity of the Olympic journey in spite of the fact that it doesn't always culminate with gold, silver or bronze.

A case in point is the experience of three Canadian women who raced in luges at Whistler. No medals, no prizes to carry home and next to no appreciation of their efforts. Heck, they couldn't even get on TV after the race was over - dropped from the lineup so hockey analysts could breakdown the ins and outs of a Canadian dismantling of Norwegians in a preliminary match.

It is understandable given our obsession with the hunt for hockey gold. Still to dismiss the contributions of Regan Lauscher, Meaghen Simister and Alex Gough, athletes who persevered in spite of tragedy and major alterations to the field of play, seems less than Canadian.

Listen to what these three women had to say when their Olympic moment was over.

"It was the race of my life," exclaimed Meaghan Simister of Regina.

"It's the Olympics and you have to take what comes," figured Alex Gough of Calgary, as she considered the aftermath of a Georgian slider's death, which tainted the competition. "The greatest advice we get is to expect the unexpected. This was about rising to the challenge and coming through it."

The last word belonged to Regan Lauscher of Red Deer, her third and last Olympic appearance behind her. There were no regrets at not having ascended the podium but rather another sentiment vastly more important.

"Complete and total gratitude," Lauscher stressed. "I feel extremely privileged to be Canadian and a Canadian athlete. It's been an opportunity that I never could have dreamed of in a sport I wasn't sure I wanted to do. Walking away from this with the experiences and friendships and all that I've had...will be etched in my heart forever."

It wasn't about "Owning the Podium" for these wise athletes. It was about racing with purpose and dignity.

These are the most important things to possess at any Olympic games.

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The thrill of victory

2010-02-15T17:30:58Z

Watching Alex Bilodeau gyrate down the course at Cypress and find gold at the end of his bumpy rainbow may be the most exciting thing I've ever seen.
It's safe to say I'm not alone in that sentiment.

Another witness was Peter Mansbridge, the esteemed chief correspondent of CBC News. He was beaming and flashing me hand signals while reading a voice over in the "live" broadcast of "The National." His aim was to learn the result and get it out as fast as he could once the last skier came across the line.

When it happened, Mansbridge got the sign and was able to acknowledge the explosion of cheering swelling from the Whistler village square.

"Finally gold for Canada at home!"

Just for a moment Peter Mansbridge became a fan and allowed himself the sweet thrill of victory.

In the aftermath of Alexandre Bilodeau's accomplishment there is a sense that a weight has been lifted...a stigma erased...and more importantly something precious to share for all Canadians.

"I was just so honoured to be here to see it," said Sam Edney. Edney races the luge and had just recorded a landmark result by a Canadian man by finishing seventh in a competition tainted by tragedy in its early stages.

"We all gathered and ate pizza and watched it on TV,' Edney enthused. "The Canadian fans are awesome and so is Alex Bilodeau."

There's something going on here and its hard not to get caught up in the jet stream of pride and passion in the evolving Canadian performance.

As downhill racer and Whistler native Britt Janyk considered what is happening she reflected on her chance to deliver at the home Olympics the way Alex Bilodeau did. And she could hardly contain her excitement.

"It means I can look back and see the path I've taken," she figured. "I wouldn't want it to be any different. I feel a real sense of community building."

Britt Janyk may have hit the nail squarely on the head. Canadians are coming together. In the thrill of victory on home soil they have discovered the newest and shiniest of national treasures.

It's amazing to be here to witness it all unfold.

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Go time at Whistler

2010-02-14T16:56:55Z

The foul weather hovers over Whistler, a community full of high performance athletes, which seems ready to burst at the seams.

Something has to happen and soon.

]]> The foul weather hovers over Whistler, a community full of high performance athletes, which seems ready to burst at the seams.

Something has to happen and soon.

People milling in the village centre pause to hear bands playing upbeat music as if to assure them everything's going to be OK. Big screen TV's blare out the action of Olympic sports taking place under protective cover in the arenas of the city.

They might as well be watching something happening on the moon.

Everyone in this majestic ski resort craves the downhill and the cross- country dashes, indeed the sense of wonder that punctuates all Olympic gatherings. They want the white circus of daring alpine racing and the thoroughbreds to blaze Nordic trails.

The athletes need to compete.

"Bring it on," said Chandra Crawford, the cross-country gold medallist from the 2006 Games. "We're used to the mayhem and the bad weather in Canada. Let's go!"

Even the death of 21-year-old Georgian slider Nodar Kumaritashvili hasn't been able to extinguish the fire that roars in every one of the Olympians who wanders the streets of Whistler like a wild animal resigned to temporary captivity.

They grieved for a time. Now they've closed ranks and gritted their teeth determined to get on with what it is they came here to do. Their lifeblood and life's work is competition - pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

"One thing I know for sure," downhill demon Manny Osborne-Paradis said in an anxious sort of way when he stopped to chat. "We will race. It's inevitable."

Max Gartner, the Chief Athletics Officer of the Canadian alpine team peered out from under the hood of his raincoat and beamed.

"It's going to happen," he exclaimed. "One way or another it's going to happen."

Such is the universal sentiment that pervades Whistler. All of this waiting will somehow be worth it once the athletes have their say at these Olympic games against this awesome backdrop.

All will be right with their World once someone gets them in the gate and shouts the final command.

"It's go time!"

Gathering by the cauldron's light

2010-02-10T17:13:48Z

Keep this in mind when thinking about the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
]]> Olympic cauldron.

Few rules govern the process.

In the past we've witnessed an archer, a flying ski jumper and a gymnast circling the roof of a Bird's Nest, as they performed the solemn ritual. There's been more than a little gimmickry reflected in the flames that have presided over previous Olympic gatherings.

Not this time. Only greatness will do.

Here's a theory to fuel the debate as all Canadians rekindle the fires of their Olympic passion. There will be not one but four arsons on the day and they will concurrently gather around the cauldron to set a celebration of Canadian Olympic history ablaze.

They will be iconic figures spanning generations in a land of ice and snow. Included in their ranks will be the defining Olympians of a winter nation that dearly values its finest skiers and skaters.

"The Great One," will be there.

How could Wayne Gretzky, our seminal hockey player not be? He is synonymous with the game and the country and by assembling the team that delivered the first men's hockey gold in 50 years in 2002, Gretzky forever cemented our loyalty.

Making the grade

Nancy Greene will make the cut.

She spawned a fascination with skiing because of her antics as "The Tiger" and by winning gold at the 1968 Olympics. Every member of this year's alpine team emerged from the Nancy Greene Racing League that keeps the sport strong in Canada.

"Canada's Sweetheart," Barbara Ann Scott will grace the proceedings.

The only Canadian winner of individual figure skating gold, Scott's legacy endures. And she won in 1948 at St. Moritz as the world was healing the wounds of war. Barbara Ann Scott is a lock in my books.

As is speedskater Catriona Le May Doan.

She was known as "The fastest woman on ice," the only Canadian Olympian, winter or summer, to have won gold medals in consecutive Games. Le May Doan's address to the IOC in 2003 swung the vote and helped get Vancouver/Whistler the Olympics in the first place.

Together they'll do it...our greatest skier, figure skater, speedskater and hockey player.

They are four strong symbols of the country and the Olympics who, like moths to the flame, will gather the world around the roaring cauldron's light on opening night.

Canadian homecoming

2010-02-04T16:19:22Z

For Canada's winter Olympians the migration from the mountains of Europe and the Nordic trails of Scandinavia is almost complete.
No longer the visitors, they're making their way back to friendly territory.

In one week's time a generation of athletes born in the land of ice and snow will finally get their chance to play a home game and race over familiar terrain with pride on the line.

Cross-country skier Chandra Crawford won't apologize for feeling more than a little festive.

"As if having the Olympics here in Canada wasn't already an incredible opportunity," the 2006 gold medallist says from her native Canmore, Alta. "The icing on the cake is having the last World Cup before the big Games here at home."

Crawford and her teammates have proven in the past they know what it takes to succeed in their own backyard. Balance and peace of mind go hand in hand with eating food you're used to and getting the rare chance to sleep in your own bed.

In cross-country skiing Canadians are the underdogs - the exceptions to the rule being the big races that are occasionally staged in Alberta's Rocky Mountains or the trails of interior British Columbia. At the 1988 Olympic site in Canmore, and at Silver Star near Kelowna, B.C., the Canucks tend to fight for the podium and sometimes win.

Olympic medallists Beckie Scott, Sara Renner and Chandra Crawford are a testament to that. It's a history that fuels Crawford's optimism as she tunes up for Vancouver/Whistler 2010.

"It's making for amazing preparation," she figures. "Nowhere do I feel more grounded and supported and able to ski my best than in the stadium where I first tried cross-country skiing 25 years ago at the age of one."

The place where dreams begin is often the same place where they are realized. It's all about having the comfort to compete on your own terms.

"I find myself feeling that 'ready to fly' state of mind," Crawford explains. "It's thanks to all of the smiles and encouragement I get by just being here and knowing all of the volunteers by name."

It must be so satisfying to race when everyone knows and cares about you.

Maybe it's the homecoming all Canadian athletes can count on at the most important time of their lives.
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Why Hughes is the right Canadian to carry the flag

2010-01-28T15:40:41Z

For a country that has not always been defined by patriotism, the choice of a flag-bearer is one that most Canadians view as a sacred trust.
It's a decision not taken lightly.The person selected has to be just right.

There are many qualified athletes out there but none fits the bill better than a cyclist turned speed skater named Clara Hughes.

It's awfully hard to argue against her.

Hughes transcends statistics and accomplishments on the field of play. Based on that fact that she is a five-time Olympian and the winner of five medals as well as being the only Canadian to have ascended the podium at both the Winter and Summer Games, Hughes soars above most of the rest.

Her credentials as an athlete are beyond question.

As a human being who reflects Canada, Clara Hughes is more than distinguished.

She is a native of Winnipeg who lives in Quebec and is fluent in both of the country's official languages. That has to count for something. Less tangible but equally striking is this 37-year-old woman's commitment to the Olympic movement and all it entails as well as the responsibility it demands.

As an ambassador of the humanitarian organization Right to Play, Hughes has devoted her time and money to ensure that the world's most disadvantaged children are positively affected by sport. In short, she represents the most elusive of all things - hope.

When asked recently to assess the meaning of being, Canadian Hughes responded by forwarding an essay she had written on the occasion of the nation's birthday.

"Racing through many of the areas where, historically speaking, Canada fought for freedom held a lot of weight," she wrote of her cycling training in Europe. "As a young person, it made me see that my country was indeed a special place."

Clara Hughes understands that being Canadian is a privilege and a way of living that conjures up strength. She discovered this on the start line of her first Olympic cycling race in Atlanta in 1996.

"It was an energy that I had never felt before," she admitted. "The mythology of the Olympics combined with that maple leaf on my back gave me a feeling of limitless possibilities. On that day I had all of Canada inside of me."

Clara Hughes is what Canada needs in a flag-bearer.

She's someone for whom a county's expectations are never a burden but rather a way to be empowered.
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The speed queen's last hurrah

2010-01-21T16:51:47Z

I call the hotel in Northern Italy and the man at reception says he'll find Emily Brydon right away.
"Everyone knows her," he claims.

There's chuckling and I make out Emily's voice as she scurries to the phone leaving her ski buddies for a moment. No doubt they'll pardon the interruption and anxiously wait to hear the finish of her latest tall tale.

Brydon has been an enormous part of the Canadian ski story for more than a decade. She's a constant contender and stood on the World Cup podium nine times. That's more than any female in this country's alpine history with the exception of Nancy Greene, Laurie Graham and Betsy Clifford.

That's exceptional company to keep.

Then again, Emily Brydon is an exceptional woman - larger than life some might say.

Her third Olympics in 2010 will be her last as she moves on with a career that includes the operation of a children's foundation near her Fernie, B.C., home. She also wants to work with Right to Play and make more trips to Africa to help desperate kids. She saw a lot in Ghana when she went there last - it opened her eyes.

"By putting a definite conclusion to my career I've sort of inspired myself," she says. "I don't want to have any regrets."

Brydon is a survivor and can make the best of any given situation. That's why she's the acknowledged leader of the Canadian female team, unofficially dubbed "The Speed Queens." It's a tight knit group that's lost stars Kelly VanderBeek and Larisa Yurkiw to injury as well as Genevieve Simard to early retirement.

"I've experienced it all," Brydon sighs wistfully. "It would be easy to get caught up in the sadness of those who won't experience the Games. But it makes me appreciate the team we have. We need to keep going. We have a job to do."

There's also an unfinished story to tell and even on a phone, thousands of miles away, I can sense Emily Brydon believes there can be a happy ending.

"I'm totally prepared," she stresses. "I have to hold on to that. I'm so proud to be Canadian."

I say goodbye to her hoping the speed queen's last hurrah will be a tall tale we can all remember for many years to come.
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Canadian figure skaters must stand and deliver

2010-01-14T21:09:01Z

They are only the national championships but the Canadian Olympic figure skating trials in London, Ont., could be a barnburner.
It's more than just hyperbole to suggest this gathering promises "sudden death" for some Olympic dreams.

There is, in fact, "no tomorrow" and two spots on the Canadian roster will depend on "do or die" performances in each of four disciplines...pairs, dance, ladies and men's singles.

In the men's competition there are at least six skaters with a chance. They come from the far reaches of the country and five of them are chasing Toronto's Patrick Chan, the world championship silver medallist, who has been less than stellar in this crucial season.

It means Joey Russell of Labrador City, NL, Shawn Sawyer of Edmundston, N.B., Vaughn Chipeur of Lloydminster, Sask., as well as Kevin Reynolds and Jeremy Ten, both of British Columbia, are in the hunt for a supporting role at Pacific Coliseum come February.

"With our Nationals a few weeks out of the Olympic Games we will have those skaters who are their best representing us in Vancouver," says Michael Slipchuk.

As Skate Canada's High Performance Director, Slipchuk will have a heavy hand in making the final cuts.

He's well qualified for his job.

At the 1992 Canadian championships in Moncton, Slipchuk won a surprise title over Elvis Stojko and earned a ticket to his first and only Olympics in Albertville, France where he placed ninth. That performance cemented the international notion that Canada had tremendous depth in men's skating as the injured Kurt Browning, Stojko and Slipchuk all finished in the top ten.

Slipchuk believes a system of trial by fire is the only way to ensure success at the Games.

"They will have shown the ability to do it when it counts," he figures. "And that's exactly what they'll have to do to reach the Olympic podium. It's very humbling as one missed element can have you on the outside looking in. You have no margin of error in our sport if you want to be the best."

So that's what to expect in London, and for my money there's no more dramatic scenario in all of sport.

At the end of the day, in order to live their dreams, all of these skaters will have to nail a single, required element.

They must stand and deliver.]]>

The Olympic pressure monster

2010-01-07T20:29:38Z

At the world junior hockey final this week we saw a glimpse of the kind of expectations Canadian athletes will face at the rapidly approaching home Olympics.
Pressure is a demon that needs to be dealt with.
Real or imagined, anytime a significant number of Canadians wrap themselves in the flag and attach themselves to the fortunes of athletes who wear the Maple Leaf, huge pressure ensues.

You could see it tattooed on the faces of the young men who fell to the United States thus halting a hockey run of dynastic proportions.

Scott Moir, a Canadian gold medal hopeful in figure skating with his partner Tessa Virtue, watched the game in Ann Arbour, Mich., beside his rival and training mate, American Charlie White, a man who had narrowly beaten him at the recent Grand Prix Final in Tokyo - the major international tune up prior to the Olympics.

"The only thing worse than watching those guys' heartbreak was hearing Charlie's celebration," Moir reflected. "Pressure is not always an easy monster to tame."

So how will Moir, who is only 22, deal with the immensity of all those people counting on him to come through on Pacific Coliseum ice?

"I like to look the beast right in the eye," Moir explained. "That's the beauty of sport. I know I have done everything to prepare myself for that moment a million times over and I must execute. I will execute!"

A matter of focus

Perhaps comfort comes with an athlete knowing he or she has the talent and fitness to reach peak performance at the moment the competition occurs. It is also a matter of focus.

"Healthy experienced athletes that are favourites to win are typically immersed in process and not outcome," noted 1998 Olympic bobsleigh gold medallist and CBC Sports analyst Dave MacEachern.

"Confidence from past success creates a great place to hide when the heat gets turned up at big events."

For the more than 200 athletes who will fly Canadian colours at home in Vancouver/Whistler, there is another consideration. As it was with the junior hockey team in Saskatoon, somebody from another country might be better qualified to win.

"For the record, I think the Canadian juniors lost to a team with superior speed and defence, not because of pressure," MacEachern said.

Sometimes the pressure monster isn't the one Olympians should fear most but it can be an enormous beast of burden. Here are some thoughts of past Olympic champions on the subject of how big a factor pressure can be.

Kerrin Lee Gartner - 1992 Alpine Gold Medallist (Downhill)

"Pressure is real and it can be used in a very positive way but it needs to be thought of as a privilege.

"Acceptance and understanding of pressure is the only way to deal with it. Some athletes say the Olympics will be the same as every other race or event, technically that might be true, but I believe it is key to accept that the Olympics will feel different than any other event. You feel more emotion, stress, excitement, pride, desire as well as distraction, expectation and pressure.

"In my book, the pride I felt as a Canadian far outweighed any added pressure."

Joan McCusker - 1998 Curling Gold Medallist

"The Olympics become the highest profile event of a person's career. Everyone pays attention from the far-reaching world media to the little old lady who taught you Grade 1. It invades your personal space like no other event in your life

"Canadian athletes will be hounded, heralded and hacked to death because these are a home Games. It might turn out to be the best or worst time of their careers.

"I strongly suggest that Canadian medal hopefuls surround themselves with tight family or community members that keep them grounded through the Olympic rollercoaster of emotions. The beauty of team sport is that you are never alone fighting the pressure monster. Your friends and teammates are just an arms length away. So use them!"

Beckie Scott - 2002 Cross Country Gold Medallist (Pursuit)

"The best athletes do not let pressure detract from their competitions and are usually able to channel any thoughts or emotions that begin to feel like pressure into a positive fuel for their performances

"There are already great expectations but competing at a home Olympics comes with a whole new level of attention and public interest.

"Focus on the things that bring you joy and relaxation. Try to normalize as much around you as you possibly can and make an effort to be around the people and places that bring you balance, perspective and enjoyment as much as possible."
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Canada has chance at perfect 2010

2010-01-01T18:25:00Z

It's such an easy year to make New Year's resolutions if you're a fan of Canadian sport.

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It's such an easy year to make New Year's resolutions if you're a fan of Canadian sport.

After all, it's the Olympic year on home ice and friendly snow and symbolically at least, 2010 is such a nice round number that's bound to find a lasting place in the collective memory of a generation of Canucks.

What should we wish for then, in order to fulfill the promise and glean the maximum 10 out of 10 in 2010?

Surely we hope that Canadian athletes can hit the target of "Own the Podium" and more than $120 million invested, in order to win the medal tally at the Vancouver/Whistler Olympics. Obviously the gold medal that many supporters in this country covet most is in the capable hands of the men's hockey team. For many observers capturing that gold medal is all that really matters. Given our nation's glorious history in and obsession with the game of hockey you can understand why.

Maybe, however, there's more to the equation than winning hockey gold that will make 2010 resonate with the vast majority of Canadians and for generations yet to come.

Perhaps in a complex and rich country navigating troubled global waters we should, as hosts, be striving to make the No. 1 priority the deliverance of peaceful and safe Games for the tens of thousands of athletes, officials and visitors to our shores. The legacy of tolerance and hospitality that will emerge from Vancouver/Whistler 2010 is the one that matters most and it will reinforce the Canadian hallmark of being a great place to live and celebrate.

We should also seize the chance to admire the tremendous sporting talent that exists in our country and to recognize the wondrous gifts of the athletes who play, not only professional hockey, but other games as well.

The speedskaters, skiers and sliders who will perform at the Olympics and Paralympics are bound to amaze and inspire all of us who have the opportunity to see them compete close at hand. The potential of Canadian youth is vast and is reflected in these men and women who pursue excellence in virtual anonymity most of their competitive lives.

Finally, Canadians should take this opportunity to cement their allegiance to the benefits of high-performance sport.

The competition that is about to unfold in British Columbia will surely be majestic and will involve the healthiest and most capable ambassadors representing diverse countries from the four corners of the World. For the most part, they are model citizens. The lesson we should take to heart is that these athletes are not superhuman but instead ordinary people who are capable of extraordinary things.

That they are Olympians is a testament not only to their instinctual talent but also to their commitment to hard work and sacrifice.

So, as we Canadians embark on the voyage of this Olympic year, perhaps we should all resolve to appreciate the Games for what they truly are.

The best we can hope for is a sporting event doubling as a peaceful celebration gathering the youth of the world in a friendly nation where honest competition will prevail.

If all that comes to pass in Vancouver/Whistler, we have a chance to make it a perfect 2010.