Do you remember when Canada used to be a contender? So I'm an Olympics fan, always have been, probably always will be. During my 33 yrs. of life, I have gathered vast memories surrounding the Olympics. This year being the first year that I'm not working (and an adult) during the Olympics, I've had more time to watch than usual. I've also had the luxury of taking time to assess my memories surrounding the event.
Imagine my surprise when I realized that the time between my childhood and now has somewhat shifted my expectations of the Olympics, more specifically of Canada in the Olympics.
When I was a child I remember watching with baited breath as our swimmers cut lines through the water as the "Ones to watch" and our rowers dominated the field. Even our track and field competitors were feared. We actually had a team worth cheering for.
Slowly though, over the years, it seems that something left our summer Olympics program. Perhaps it was funding. Or a sudden drop in the talent pool. I don't know. What I do know is that I now watch the Olympics simply for a good time and not so much to cheer on my own team.
Did you know that this year we don't even have a women's gymnastics team? Unlike Brazil, Italy, or the Ukraine. When did the Ukraine start pumping out more athletic power than our much loved True North? 'Cause the Ukraine have only been in 3 summer Olympics as an Independent country. And all three times they scored 23 metals.
So what about the Ukraine? Perhaps they area good vehicle for comparison. Population wise they technically have about 15 million more people at their disposal, but still. I'd like to think what we lack in population , we should be able to make up for in our country's wealth. We are considered one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a high per-capita income. The Ukraine is just getting over a market shift that plunged most of it's country into Poverty. And yet, it will be expected that they will outperform us this year. Again. Easily.
As I write this, I am currently watching the Olympics. Canada is getting trounced in water polo by the Spanish. It is day 3 and the magic of the internet has allowed me to lookup standings and info from not only the current Olympics, but Olympics past as well. (ps I love the internet). Knowing full well that the Olympics have ballooned to events I haven't even heard of, I thought perhaps I might have missed some moment of patriotic pride as we bagged our first metal in synchronized water baby juggling or something.
Turns out, we don't have a metal yet. Not one. 67 metals have been awarded already. Uzbekistan has one. Croatia has one. Italy has four. Canada, zilch. Thankfully, neither does the Ukraine.
So what do I want? I want 1984 back. In 1984 Alex Baumann made me cheer. Alot. Victor Davis helped him dominate the waters. We had cyclers, divers, even boxers who won medals. We left with 44. 44 medals. (In the last three summer Olympics put together we had 48, just to add perspective). Sure, it may have had something to do with the 15 or so eastern bloc countries (including the ever monstrous USSR - which at the time included our nemesis the Ukraine) that boycotted the games that year, but it felt good! I want 44 metals dammit! 1984 was a good year for us!
This year isn't looking so good. I've heard that we can expect some gold from our boated water sports teams and singles. I hope so. 'Cause I think it'll be a new low for us if we even come close to being skunked. In 2004 we got 12. Let's just hope we don't go down from there.
I guess in the end, it's not really about who wins or loses...until the upcoming Winter Olympic which are on home soil in Vancouver. 'Cause if we don't win and win big then, then I'm unofficially becoming a Ukrainian citizen...at least during the summers. Me and Alex Baumann.
