What I've Learned About "The System" in Turin
After Week 1 in Turin, here are some observations I have on Canada's performance:
The Good
1. skeleton (3 medals, one of each colour, plus a 4th)
2. speed skating (3 medals in long, one in short, more to come?)
3. hockey (both teams undefeated, women at least silver)
4. curling (both teams 4-2, tied for 2nd)
5. women's cross country skiing (silver)
6. women's snowboarding cross (bronze and 4th)
7. men's figure skating (bronze and top 10)
8. dance figure skating (a 4th after compulsory)
9. men's (all made finals, one came 4th) and women's (all made finals, gold) moguls
The Bad
1. men's cross country (top 40 would be a thrill)
2. biathlon (Miriam Bedard, where are you and your lasting legacy?)
3. luge (don't we have a track in Calgary to practice on?)
4. ski jumping (first time in Olympics since '92? don't we have at least 2 hills?)
5. alpine skiing (Mr. Read, knowing your sister-in-law can't make me give you glowing praise)
6. pairs figure skating (come back Sale and Pelletier!)
Yet to Come
1. bobsled (good chance here)
2. ladies figure skating (not holding my breath)
The Ugly (alias The System)
1. Apparently Cindy Klassen told her coaches she only wanted to skate 2 of the 4 races in the women's long track pursuit. Why was she skating in the semi, and not the final against Germany? Do you think Germany felt relieved when Klassen, who had beaten all their skaters in the 3000m, wasn't racing? Me too.
2. Dale Begg-Smith, a Canadian, wins gold in men's freestyle moguls for Australia because he can't meet the Canadian system's requirements. Obviously, the Canadian system should be replaced by the Australian system. How do you let the Wayne Gretzky of moguls leave your program?
3. Emanuel Sandhu turns Zamboni again. It was mentioned he's still bitter he wasn't on the 1998 team, even though he was a World Top 10. Due to injury in 2002, this was his first Games. Could you perform at a high level if it was your first experience on the biggest stage, and you were considered a favourite? Neither could I. Would any other country's Olympic committee have done what ours did to Sandhu in '98? Probably not.
4. Jennifer Heil wins moguls for Canada, yet still goes outside our system to get nutritional and therapeutical assistance. Fix our system!
It's been 20 years since Calgary's facilities were constructed. While 11 medals is nothing to sneeze at, why are some of our "bad" categories there? What has to change to make them "good"? Why do we still have "ugly"?
Regards,
Steve
The Good
1. skeleton (3 medals, one of each colour, plus a 4th)
2. speed skating (3 medals in long, one in short, more to come?)
3. hockey (both teams undefeated, women at least silver)
4. curling (both teams 4-2, tied for 2nd)
5. women's cross country skiing (silver)
6. women's snowboarding cross (bronze and 4th)
7. men's figure skating (bronze and top 10)
8. dance figure skating (a 4th after compulsory)
9. men's (all made finals, one came 4th) and women's (all made finals, gold) moguls
The Bad
1. men's cross country (top 40 would be a thrill)
2. biathlon (Miriam Bedard, where are you and your lasting legacy?)
3. luge (don't we have a track in Calgary to practice on?)
4. ski jumping (first time in Olympics since '92? don't we have at least 2 hills?)
5. alpine skiing (Mr. Read, knowing your sister-in-law can't make me give you glowing praise)
6. pairs figure skating (come back Sale and Pelletier!)
Yet to Come
1. bobsled (good chance here)
2. ladies figure skating (not holding my breath)
The Ugly (alias The System)
1. Apparently Cindy Klassen told her coaches she only wanted to skate 2 of the 4 races in the women's long track pursuit. Why was she skating in the semi, and not the final against Germany? Do you think Germany felt relieved when Klassen, who had beaten all their skaters in the 3000m, wasn't racing? Me too.
2. Dale Begg-Smith, a Canadian, wins gold in men's freestyle moguls for Australia because he can't meet the Canadian system's requirements. Obviously, the Canadian system should be replaced by the Australian system. How do you let the Wayne Gretzky of moguls leave your program?
3. Emanuel Sandhu turns Zamboni again. It was mentioned he's still bitter he wasn't on the 1998 team, even though he was a World Top 10. Due to injury in 2002, this was his first Games. Could you perform at a high level if it was your first experience on the biggest stage, and you were considered a favourite? Neither could I. Would any other country's Olympic committee have done what ours did to Sandhu in '98? Probably not.
4. Jennifer Heil wins moguls for Canada, yet still goes outside our system to get nutritional and therapeutical assistance. Fix our system!
It's been 20 years since Calgary's facilities were constructed. While 11 medals is nothing to sneeze at, why are some of our "bad" categories there? What has to change to make them "good"? Why do we still have "ugly"?
Regards,
Steve
posted by Irrelevant at 8:51 PM
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