Pride in region’s Olympic athletes
Let's take a moment from the doom and gloom of news coverage of catastrophic events to bask in the glow of one of the pinnacles of human achievement brought to us via the Olympic Games.
The summer Olympics are happening in Paris from July 26 to Aug. 11 with several Atlantic Canadians in attendance.
Yes, the Olympics have had their share of negative news already, including a shameful episode involving some members of Team Canada's soccer team who were sent home amid allegations they used a drone to spy on competitors. The embarrassment should soon be outweighed, however, by our feelings of pride and elation when we see our fellow Canadians train hard, overcome odds and earn a spot amongst the world's best athletes.
HARD WORK
Nova Scotia's Ellie Black knows all about the teamwork and dedication that goes into an appearance at the Olympics, having earned fourth- and fifth-place finishes in gymnastics events at three previous Games.
Black was also part of the team that won Canada a historic bronze medal at the 2022 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
"So going into this Olympics, I'm just ecstatic to say I'm going to my fourth one and I get to represent Nova Scotia and Canada,” Black told SaltWire ahead of the Games. “But I also get another opportunity to try and reach that podium and no matter how that goes, I know how much hard work I've already put in and I know I'm going to fight as hard as I can when I'm there."
REGIONAL REPS
Joining Black in Paris are fellow Nova Scotians, Michelle Russell, Riley Melanson, Connor Fitzpatrick and Sloan MacKenzie, competing in paddling; Sarah Mitton (shotput); Shay Colley (basketball); Wyatt Sanford (boxing); and sisters Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance, who are competing in sailing.
Other Atlantic Canadian Olympians include Alysha Corrigan (rugby) and Hannah Taylor (wrestling) from Prince Edward Island. Swimmer Brooklyn Douthwright and Craig Thorne (track and field) join the Games from New Brunswick.
Triathlon technical official Janice Ryan and rowing coach Jeremy Ivey, of Newfoundland and Labrador, are among several of the region's coaches and staff whose skills have also brought them to the Olympics. More athletes from the Atlantic provinces will be heading to Paris following the Games for the Paralympics.
TEARS OF JOY
“There's only a small group of people that are chosen to do these things,” Ryan told SaltWire. “I think it's pretty great that I come from the smallest province and I'm still able to get the support of Triathlon Canada do it.”
“It still flabbergasts me that it's happening," sailor Antonia Lewin-LaFrance told SaltWire, later adding, “So to finally be here, it just feels so huge. I actually don't have the words for it. I'm worried that when I get there, I'm just going to burst into tears."
There will likely be more than a few Atlantic Canadians joining her – but it will be a relief to sob in front our television sets with tears of joy instead of despair. Go, Team Canada.