Canada’s team in the recently concluded Beijing’s Winter Olympics defied the odds, went to Beijing and came back home with a lot of medals.
According to Canadian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer, David Shoemaker, before the opening ceremony of the Olympics, over 1120 members of Canada’s delegation of 555 athletes, coaches, support and mission staff contracted COVID-19.
One of the 215 athletes was not able to fully compete in the events. Keegan Messing couldn’t make it to Beijing in time for figure skating’s team event, but he was able to skate in the men’s competition.
At the main press centre, Shoemaker said: “Our goal was to ensure no athlete was deprived of an opportunity to compete.
“I feel quite good with how we handled that.”
He said many athletes were shedding the virus upon landing in Beijing and had to isolate initially as the COC convinced the organizing committee’s medical panel they were safe to compete.
Canada ranked fourth with a total of 26 medals — four gold, eight silver and 14 bronze — behind Norway (37 medals), Russia (32 medals) and Germany (27 medals).
In the number of gold medals won, Canada ranked 11th, the lowest since three gold medals were won in 1994 in Norway. Canada’s overall medals in Beijing was boosted by a record number of bronze medals.
While talking further, Shoemaker said: “Completely satisfied with that performance. I think that puts us in the company that we always aspire to compete with.
“Let’s not gloss over how difficult these last two years were for Team Canada that in my estimation had to endure the most restrictive COVID protocols of any nation.”
“It’s been a remarkable performance,” Own The Podium chief executive officer Anne Merklinger said.
Ottawa speedskater, Isabelle Weidemann and short-track skater, Steven Dubois of Terrebone, Quebec each won a complete set of medals and earned their gold in team events.
Some of the best moments are Canada defeating the United States women’s hockey team 3-2 for gold and cancer survivor Max Parrot of Quebec winning snowboard gold and bronze.
Short-tracker Charles Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Quebec won his sixth career medal (relay gold).
Also, Team Canada did well in mixed-gender team events by winning bronze in ski jumping as well as in aerials and snowboard cross.
Pilot Justin Kripps of Summerland, B.C. and brakemen Cam Stones of Whitby, Ont., Ryan Sommer of White Rock, B.C., and Saskatoon’s Ben Coakwell won Canada’s 26th medal in four-man bobsled.
