Olympic GDT - 11 August

[transplant99]

Just watched Mark De Jonge win a bronze for Canada in the 200 M Kayak.

[Devils'Advocate]

Well, looks like Canada will leave London with a single gold. As someone said earlier, BMX biking is a crap shoot... being ranked #1 doesn't mean that you will always medal.

The bronze that should have been more in women's soccer will be the memorable moment of these Olympics for me.

[Mango]

Unless something drastic happens in the next 24 hours...who do you give the flag to?
It's obviously between Sinlcair and MacLennan.

I was chatting with some other journo/broadcasters here and they think Sinclair might not get it because of her comments after the USA game and when they asked her again Friday, she said she didn't want to take them back despite grabbing the bronze. I've followed the women's team for over a decade and I'm bias. I want Sinclair to carry it because she's carried the women's national team on her back for her entire career. However, others feel because it's a team sport and her comments came off as a "whiner" that she doesn't deserve it. On the other hand, the women's team obviously captured the most interest out of Canadians.

But with all that said, how can Canada's lone gold winner be ignored? I feel bad for her because she's probably not getting the recognition she deserves.

It's a tough situation.

On another note, the women's soccer team had a yacht party with some members of the 2010 women's hockey team from Vancouver who are here in London. It was a sight to see

[killer_carlson]

Because Sinclair will be the flag bearer, maybe it's ok that Rosie is the only gold. She will get some better endorsements that way.

[killer_carlson]

If someone thought that she was a whiner, they didn't watch that game. I'm 100% behind her and tancredi (who I thought was fantastic in interviews).

[Mango]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

If someone thought that she was a whiner, they didn't watch that game. I'm 100% behind her and tancredi (who I thought was fantastic in interviews).

Indeed. Both are tremendous leaders in that room.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Mango

Indeed. Both are tremendous leaders in that room.

I don't mean to be a jerk but it seems I've taken to the team so much I'm quick to jump to their defense. I've only ran into one critical person at this point in person, which was a pointed discussion.

I think it would be a mistake not to have Sinclair with the flag, and rek of COC politics

[Mango]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I don't mean to be a jerk but it seems I've taken to the team so much I'm quick to jump to their defense. I've only ran into one critical person at this point in person, which was a pointed discussion.

You and I are in the same boat. I have a huge soft spot for this team. There are only two teams I would go to the ends of the earth for: the Calgary Flames and the Canadian women's soccer team.

Only a year ago, I thought this team would never ever recover from what happened at the World Cup. I think if you were to ask Sinclair even today, she would still be so sad about it. It totally destroyed them. With a coaching change and different mentality, they picked up the pieces and got a friggin' Olympic medal.

Sinclair is one of the humblest human beings you'll ever meet. Soft-spoken, kind, shy, but so passionate about the sport and her teammates. I have a tough time with any sort of criticism she gets because of that. Most of all...she loves Canada. I can't even explain in words the kind of pride she has when she wears the maple leaf.

When you follow a team for so long and something amazing happens to them, it's just natural you would jump to their defense. Every single sporting fan has a team/teams they love.

[Mango]

Am I nuts? Probably.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Mango

Am I nuts? Probably.

Not at all, just passionate. That's a good thing.

I have no problem with the Canadians speaking out after the debacle, I just wish they would have waited til after everything was over as i feared two things were occurring...

1) It would come off as vindictive against the Americans instead of where it was aimed...at the referee, which i think happened to a degree.

2) That it would derail their focus as they played for the bronze, which to a point i think happened as twell, because they were so badly outplayed.

Thankfully they were rewarded by the soccer gods/karma/whatever and obtained that spot on the podium as that was their total goal going in.

Hard not to be extremely proud of them as Canadians and as athletes.

[killer_carlson]

For me, it is because Sinclair is so shy and accomplished that her critique of the ref should be supported. Sinclair knows what it means when she makes the complaint and that it will be more attention, which isn't in her character. She's had it with FIFA bullsh-t and sais what had to be said. She also has the most street cred of any Canadian athlete in that sport, ever.

When one of the worlds best players from the country hosting the next world cup calls out your officiating, you'll get attention to the issue

[Slava]

I think that the womens soccer was the best Canadian story of the games, but Maclennan should carry the flag. She is the only one to get gold, and while its a sport that I think is silly and should be eliminated its still a gold. She accomplished something that no other Canadian athlete was able to do in London and ought to be rewarded as such.

That's not to take away from Sinclair or her performance here. The Soccer team was great, but so were a number of other bronze medalists. They've had their moment in the spotlight though, and we should celebrate our only gold medal winning performance by letting her have the honour of carrying the flag.

[Machiavelli]

I think MacLennan will definitely carry the flag.

Two big events of interest today with Canadians competing:

Mens' 10m platform diving finals: 1:30 pm MST
Mens' 4 x 100m relay finals: 2:00 pm MST

[MrMastodonFarm]

I'm hoping the Brazilians and Americans start fighting during the 4X100m and Canada gets a medal.

[Hanna Sniper]

I would love to see Tonya Verbeek carry the flag personally.

That being said, that is who I would like to see carry the flag and not who I think should. For myself there shouldn't even be a question.... Sinclair

I hate soccer with a passion, and even I couldn't escape being pulled into what that team and their coach accomplished. Easily Canada's 2012 team of the year. Sinclair and this teams performance will have inspired more youth (young woman) then any other performance in this Olympics in Canada

[Arsenal14]

I think the choice will come down to Sinclair or Emilie Heymans. Heymans is in her last Olympics, has medaled I believe four times and is French-Canadian. There is a tendency to alternate male/female and English/French so with Whitfield carrying it in the opening Heymans could be favored for the closing. Personally I'm hoping for Sinclair as I'm a huge fan of soccer in general and our national teams and Sinclair is just an incredible athlete and representative for Canada.

[endeavor]

Mexico makes it 2-0 against Brazil.

[GirlySports]

Brazil is cursed when it comes to Olympics soccer....

[Mango]

CONCACAF with a pretty impressive showing at the Olympics.

[SuperMatt18]

Not sure why they started with Hulk, and Pato both on the bench.

And since when did Brazil start playing with 2 defensive mids (Sandro & Romulo).