The groans could be heard across Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows – and Canada – when the Canadian men’s hockey team lost its hard-fought gold medal match at the Milano Cortina Olympics on Sunday morning.
But before that, Aldergrove’s Shea Theodore made a podium-worthy goal in the semifinals against Finland last Friday, tying the game and giving Canada the chance it needed to win in the final seconds.
Another Lower Mainland athlete taking part in the Games for the first time was Tyler Tardi, long a B.C. curling superstar. As an alternate player, he helped Team Canada in yet another sport where Canadians tend to dominate – and in these Games, they again took the gold.
Judging by the cheers of triumph, sighs of disappointment, and occasional yelps of panic coming from cars, offices, homes, and sports bars in recent days, a lot of Canadians were caught up in the Olympic spirit.
It’s a fine thing to be swept up in.
While seeing an athlete standing on top of the podium is satisfying – especially if they’re a B.C. or local athlete – Canadians were also cheering for athletes who will place fourth, seventh, or 20th. It helps to keep in mind that if someone is the 20th best Olympic speed skater, they are probably about the 20th best speed skater in the world.
All our Canadian athletes have worked incredibly hard to get where they are. They’ve taken natural talent and honed it with thousands of hours of dedicated practice and training.
We must remember that for most of those athletes, now back home, it doesn’t result in fame and fortune.
Popular sports like hockey and figure skating might lead to endorsement deals and pro sports salaries, but the folks giving their all to biathlon, bobsleigh, or ski jumping are doing it because it’s what they love to do.
If they’re lucky, they’ll get support with their training and while they’re preparing to represent Canada – but after that, they won’t be selling autographs and making a seven-figure salary. They’re extraordinary athletes, but ordinary Canadians, who have to juggle jobs and school, kids and mortgages in between moments of athletic glory.
So in the wake of the Games, let us congratulate all our athletes who wore the red and white for Canada at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Whether they come home with a medal or not, they should know that Canada was rooting for them, and knows they did their best to represent their country.
With all the sports-loving families in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, not to mention the Lower Mainland, there are probably a few kids out there watching this year’s Games, considering new sports.
Hopefully, we’ll see them on the podium at the future Olympics decked out in the Maple Leaf as well.