Mixed Bag
What a day of highs and lows for the Canadian Olympic Team.
The good - Cindy Klassen, Chandra Crawford, Kristina Groves and the 3000m women's short-track speedskating team all medal (well done!), bringing Canada's medal total to 18. Of those, 13 are worn by women. When Crawford won, I balled my eyes out. Her win symbolized to me what the Olympics are about - all the years of sacrifice out of the limelight are repaid on the world's largest sports stage.
The men's curling team survived "must-win Wednesday" by beating the USA. Now they're against a hot, experienced, hungry Finland team. All the pressure will be on Canada, so watch out for Finland. A not-so-bold prediction - there will be no one working in Newfoundland Friday.
The bad - the women's curling team were decisively beaten by the Swiss. Hopefully they'll rebound for bronze against Dordy Nordby and Team Norway. Shannon Kleibrink was all class in her post-game interview, taking the blame and saying a bronze is now an important focus. I like their chances.
One note - it seems the other countries always send the same teams to the curling worlds and Olympics. While our teams get a lot of experience when they win at the Scott, Brier and Olympic Trials, they are somewhat lacking in experience when they get to the world stage. Maybe a "world tune up" tourney in April every year for the 2nd place finishers in each country would help Canadian teams get more international experience.
The ugly - men's hockey team, not for losing, but being shut out for 11 of the last 12 periods. I'm not going to throw stones at them, because I know they're hurting right now.
- women's aerials, for having a 12th place finish. Why are we losing ground in a sport we dominated, while the Chinese, who have taken up all these sports internationally very recently, are shining? Fix the system!
Regards,
Steve
The good - Cindy Klassen, Chandra Crawford, Kristina Groves and the 3000m women's short-track speedskating team all medal (well done!), bringing Canada's medal total to 18. Of those, 13 are worn by women. When Crawford won, I balled my eyes out. Her win symbolized to me what the Olympics are about - all the years of sacrifice out of the limelight are repaid on the world's largest sports stage.
The men's curling team survived "must-win Wednesday" by beating the USA. Now they're against a hot, experienced, hungry Finland team. All the pressure will be on Canada, so watch out for Finland. A not-so-bold prediction - there will be no one working in Newfoundland Friday.
The bad - the women's curling team were decisively beaten by the Swiss. Hopefully they'll rebound for bronze against Dordy Nordby and Team Norway. Shannon Kleibrink was all class in her post-game interview, taking the blame and saying a bronze is now an important focus. I like their chances.
One note - it seems the other countries always send the same teams to the curling worlds and Olympics. While our teams get a lot of experience when they win at the Scott, Brier and Olympic Trials, they are somewhat lacking in experience when they get to the world stage. Maybe a "world tune up" tourney in April every year for the 2nd place finishers in each country would help Canadian teams get more international experience.
The ugly - men's hockey team, not for losing, but being shut out for 11 of the last 12 periods. I'm not going to throw stones at them, because I know they're hurting right now.
- women's aerials, for having a 12th place finish. Why are we losing ground in a sport we dominated, while the Chinese, who have taken up all these sports internationally very recently, are shining? Fix the system!
Regards,
Steve
posted by Irrelevant at 6:17 PM
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