THE FINAL DAY.
The final day kicked off with a heartfelt press conference by the Canadian Olympic Committee, spilling over with pride and gratitude for the nation’s support and the Olympic spirit of our team, their drive and determination. Canada’s goal was to finish Top 12 in the medal count and they finished 10th. With 22 total, Team Canada also tied the most medals won at a non-boycotted games. Mission: Accomplished, for now.
COC president, Tricia Smith, acknowledged the unprecedented medal haul by Canadian women at the games and called for the continued pursuit for equality in sports.
This comes a day after Brazilian soccer phenom, Marta, made an emotional plea after Brazil’s Bronze medal loss to Canada. Please don’t give up on us, the women’s team. Keep supporting us. The Brazilian women’s team, a team that is largely ignored by arguably the biggest soccer nation in the world, was given regard when Neymar and the men’s team failed to produce results early on in the tournament.
It’s sad to see that after an amazing tournament, this is one of the first thoughts in Marta’s mind following the game. Here’s hoping a generation has been inspired.
Speaking of inspiring a generation, Curt Harnett, Chef De Mission, announced Penny Oleksiak as Canada’s Closing Ceremony flag bearer. A 16 year old, part of that next generation, already inspiring the next. The truth came out this afternoon that Penny was actually back in the Greater Toronto Area for a few days, and got a new kitten named Rio, before heading back to Brazil.
On to the final day of competition:
MEN’S BASKETBALL
It seems the more exciting game to end the men’s tournament was actually the Bronze medal game between Spain and Australia. Spain led by 2 points at the half. The score would stay close until the end when Spain took the bronze medal by 1 basket, 89-88.
In the Gold medal game, USA beat Serbia 96-66.
WOMEN’S BOXING – 69-75kg
USA’s Claressa Shields was the champion back in London at 17 years old. Today, she defeated the Netherlands to win back to back Gold Medals.
MEN’S HANDBALL
Denmark are Olympic champions for the first time in history, keeping the 2-time champion French team at bay 28-26. Germany took the Bronze medal.
MEN’S MARATHON
In the traditionally, most prestigious event of the summer Olympics, over 150 men hit the streets of Rio. Kenya’s Kipchoge took the Gold medal by over 1 minute. Ethiopia’s Lilesa had a bobble towards the end of the race, but recovered and kept his Silver medal placing. USA’s Rupp ran a PB to earn the Bronze medal. For Canada, it was Eric Gillis finishing Top 10, the first Canadian in 40 years to finish Top 10! The second Canadian, Reid Coolsaet, finished 23rd. Both Canadians in the Top 25 is pretty awesome!
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
In the Bronze medal match, Russia led the USA 2 close sets (25-23, 25-21) to none, but the Americans rallied back to even it up with 2 decisive sets (25-19, 25-19) and finally took the 5th set 15-13.
In the Gold medal match, the home team did not disappoint, sweeping Italy 25-22, 28-26 and 26-24!
WRESTLING
The Men’s 65kg Bronze Medal bout was an interesting one. Mongolia’s Ganzorig vs. Uzbekistan’s Navruzov. In the dying seconds, Mongolia was up 7-6 and was already celebrating as he danced around the mat. His coaches joined him on the mat to celebrate, but as that was happening, UZB launched a protest for failure to engage. That made it 7-7. As the rules go, the last wrestler to win a point is the winner of the match, making UZB the winner. The Mongolian coaches protested in their own manner at this point, pulling off their shirts, shoes and one also pulled off his pants in protest. Ganzorig would shake Navruzov’s hand and give him a congratulatory bro-hug, but a couple times, refused to stand on the mat for the ref to raise Navruzov’s hand in victory. The judges awarded an 8th point to Navruzov to make their point.
And finally, our favourite moments of the Rio Olympics, in no particular order:
- Women’s Rugby 7s – a fierce sport, and a fierce Canadian team
- Deanne Rose playing huge for Canada in the Women’s Soccer Bronze Medal win
- John Herdman’s dancing celebrations
- Canadian Swimmers reminding us that we don’t have to be quiet, polite Canadians; and Mark Tewksbury’s in-studio reaction to the medals.
- Penny – not just the fact that she won 4 medals, but rather that she left her heart in the pool and was genuinely shocked every time she looked up at the scoreboard.
- Syrian refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini being too mature beyond her years and swimming to give others HOPE.
- Two marriage proposals – one on the rugby pitch, one in the diving pool.
- Usain Bolt’s Triple Triple, but more importantly, his Bromance with Andre De Grasse, and De Grasse’s 3 medals… and Donovan Bailey’s reactions to the sprint races.
- Sweden’s Women’s Soccer coach cleverly rebutting the American goalkeeper many times.
- The joy of Canadian marathoners, both men and women
- Brazil vaulting to the top in Men’s pole vault
- The commercials: “I’m part of tomorrow’s Team Canada”
- Playing with LEGO with my Wife 🙂