Winning Isn't Everything

There are no Canadians competing on Sunday, so we finish with a total of 18 medals. This is our third highest total ever (for the Summer Olympics), equaling our total from Barcelona in 1992, behind our 22 in Atlanta in 1996, and our 44 in Los Angelas in 1984 (an Olympics that was boycotted by the Soviet Union and many other eastern block countries).

Yesterday, Adam van Koeverden (flag-bearer from the Opening Ceremonies) rebounded from a very disappointing 8th in the K-1 1000 the day before to take the Silver in the K-1 500 Flatwater Kayak, an event that he set the world record in during the heats. It must have been tough to recover from the emotional devastation he felt after the 1000 and to pull it together for the 500.

Other medalists that I did not get around to posting yesterday include Karine Sergerie who took the Silver in the 67kg weight class in Tae Kwon Do, and Thomas Hall, who took the Bronze in the C-1 1000 Flatwater Canoe event.

You can find a day-by-day roll call of all the Canadian Medalists by clicking here.

After a slow first week, Canada really pulled it together, but really medals aren't the only measure of a team's heart. Many athletes achieved personal bests, and ultimately, if we as a country want to elevate those into medal positions, then there needs to be funding and support in place to make that possible.

In preparation for the Vancouver Olympics, the Canadian Olympic Committee has created the "Own the Podium" initiative to try to increase our medal count.

For me personally, it isn't the medals that count. I much prefer to hear the personal stories of the atheletes, their triumphs and their tragedies - the Bronze winning weightlifter who pulls out a picture of his wife, recently killed in an accident, while on the podium - the Sudanese refugee who came to America and ended up being their flag-bearer - Canada's Carol Huynh, Gold medal wrestler, who's parents were Vietnamese refugees - these are the stories that make the Olympics special for me.

There are great achievements to celebrate: Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Misty Mae-Traenor and Kerri Walsh; but it is the many examples of sportsmanship and the dedication of amateur athletes who work their entire lives for 15 minutes of glory that are the real thrill for me. Would you dedicate years of your life to be a world-class Hammer Thrower? It is hard to imagine.