Team Canada off to a great start in Sochi
Posted February 11, 2014 8:22 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SOCHI, Russia (NEWS1130) – Norway may have taken over the top spot in the medal rankings, but Team Canada’s athletes still have our country near the top of the board, with another gold and bronze today on the slopes.
Arash Madani with Sportsnet is in Sochi for News1130 and says the Maple Leaf has never had a start like this.
“It’s incredible … This was the mission, this was the hope the Canadian Olympic Committee had set out from the beginning. They had forecasted a medal a day coming into the Games and had hoped to have the most at the conclusion of the Games. What a start, indeed.”
Madani says it’s more than pride powering Canada’s athletes in Russia.
“I think it’s a transformation in attitude that for years for Canada was about personal bests and getting here and representing your country. Now it’s not about participation, it’s about winning,” he tells News1130.
“That began in Vancouver [at the 2010 Olympics] and that kind of ideal, that kind of transformation of an attitude for the athletes and for many Canadian supporters and fans has carried over. This is not by accident, not just because of pride and attitude; there was a significant investment made by the Own the Podium program, by the Canadian Olympic Committee, by a private company called B2ten that is investing in athletes, investing in their rehab, investing in all the things required to be a world class athlete,” says Madani.
“Now, for the second consecutive Olympics, it’s the Canadians who are stealing the show.”
They have definitely done that in the opening days of the Games. We will see if they can continue the golden pace.
Head to sportsnet.ca for more Olympic coverage.
