Best Olympics ever.
When anybody asks me what I thought of the 21st Olympic Winter Games, I’ll say, it was the best Olympics ever.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of the Olympics. Back when my best Olympic event was still tree climbing, I watched Greg Joy win high jump silver at the Montreal Games.
A few years later, I watched boxers Shawn O’Sullivan and Willie DeWitt get punched in their Olympic faces. By the time 1988 rolled around, and Ben Johnson was the fastest convicted drug cheat in a race filled with unconvicted drug cheats, I was hooked.
There really is nothing quite like the Olympics.
It is our best example of the world as a single community; and this year Canada set a fine example. We won the most gold medals of any country in any Winter Games, ever; and we proved that we know how to throw one hill of a party.
The Vancouver Games weren’t perfect by any means, but nothing in life ever is; just ask curler Cheryl Bernard, or skier Devon Kershaw, or sledder Lyndon Rush. Life has its ups and downs, and an Olympic Games has a way of magnifying it all, from the highest highs to the lowest lows.
Imagine carrying the weight of a country’s pride on your back along with it. A load like that is no easy burden, but Canada shouldered it with skill, strength and honour. We have proven our legs.
In 2010, our athletes powered to unprecedented heights, and put a big red cherry on top of the Olympic cake. They gave us moment after incredible moment, enough to make even the hardest heart sing with pride.
Seemingly overnight, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir went from virtual unknowns to Canada’s sweethearts. Joannie Rochette became the picture of bravery, Jon Montgomery the voice of country cool, and Clara Hughes the poster child of gutsy determination.
The list goes on and on. Even before Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal, this was the best Olympics ever. Yet, it was about more than personal bests, gold medals and world records. This winter was about the party.
It became a two-week bender that captured a nation; a party where everyone was invited, all your cool friends showed up, and the house didn’t even get wrecked.
This was Canada’s Olympic Games, from one red and white end to the other, and don’t let anyone tell you different.
We deserved a party like the Olympics. It may have left a dent in the pocketbook, but all the good parties do. And if your head was pounding just a little bit on Monday morning, that only means your heart was pounding too. Like the song says, it might even be glowing.
And it feels good.