How long 'till Own the Podium organizers call it an 'outright success'?

[SOMBRI2]

Originally Posted by Thor

In overall results, yes for Koreans, no for Chinese. China has 1 billion people and big funding for summer and winter olympics.

Korea focuses only on a few sports.

Not sure why that comparison.

i am sure it's not right when you say chinese putting big money in winter games. it's not until in the last 20 years. but compare dollar for dollar, it may be a bigger chunk than the canadians.

chinese won't be happy to finish top 3, they want number ONE!

we will see when team canada officials come out and say blah blah blah excuse, we know they are not number ONE calibre country in winter sports. your only excuse should be to admit the failure of the program!

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Ace Handy

Does anyone else find it hilarious that people are calling out Olympic athletes for choking on an internet forum?

"If it weren't for my chronic asthma and bifocals I'd have like six gold medals by now."

Calling it "Own the Podium" was a mistake. We came across as cocky and are being put in our place.

Right. And since all 4000 members of this forum aren't NHL hockey players, we'd better stop getting angry when the Flames lose too.

It's not about what I could do at the Olympics, or about how many medals our athletes won, it's about how many medals they've lost - Ones that were gift wrapped and sitting at the finish line.

[Cowperson]

Home advantage is starting to look like a bit of problem.

Across a number of sports it looks as though Canadian athletes have been getting off their game plans, almost being too aggressive - like Hollingsworth and many of the alpine skiers - and crashing and burning at the wrong moment even as they're pushing for the gold the home crowd wants and expects.

They look like they want it almost too much. From my perch, it looks like an almost aggressive overshoot than anything else. Die trying . . . . . and they're dying trying.

Still, these Games have provided some amazing moments of triumph for Canada as well, the tear-inducing Alex Bilodeau story, the Every Canadian Man's dream walk through Whistler, chugging beer moment from Gold Medalist Jon Montgomery, the awesome humbleness of Maelle Ricker and Christine Nesbitt.

I would agree a Canadian men's hockey gold will make any disappointment disappear in a big hurry. No pressure guys!!!

America has been shooting the lights out as though they have home field advantage and, being so close to the border, maybe they do in a way.

Lastly, Own The Podium should also be weighed in terms of world rankings heading into an Olympics and whether the expectations were genuine or hyped. At some point, the athletes do have to deliver if the expectations are genuine.

Cowperson

[Flame On]

If some of the athletes permormed how they should/had been doing then there should have been more medals. Ad to that the odd Canadian dark-horse and the OTP would have been a huge success.
They put the resources in place it's up to individuals to perform and many haven't.

[Pastiche]

The results aren't too surprising outside of long track.

Alpine is always a crap-shoot. Short track sure, should have got one or two more. Ski cross was a let down but hardly something you'd bank on.

The real letdown is with long track. Somebody is going to have to own up to what happened. Weren't the Canadian skaters using the Richmond facility for a while now? Shouldn't they be used to the sticky ice? Maybe that's the problem, maybe the lack of altitude training is why all of them are dying off in the last lap seemingly. Either way, huge disappointment. Need a fundamental look at what went on there.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Right. And since all 4000 members of this forum aren't NHL hockey players, we'd better stop getting angry when the Flames lose too.

It's not about what I could do at the Olympics, or about how many medals our athletes won, it's about how many medals they've lost - Ones that were gift wrapped and sitting at the finish line.

That is absolutely never the case in a competition at this level. Not one single athlete has had a medal gift wrapped and waiting for them, none have won every single event on the world cup or relevant season. This is the absolute best vs. the absolute best, you aren't going to win every single time. There have been disappointments, but the idea that certain athletes had wins gift wrapped is preposterous.

LEt me ask you this, where do you get your expected results from? I'm sure you've intently followed the respective world cup seasons to know who is performing well under certain conditions, who's struggling through injuries, who's peaking, who's slumping etc., or maybe you just go with the hype machine that is CTV. Maybe that has something to do with it.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by bcb

Our attitude of accepting 'top three' will prevent us from ever becoming a powerhouse.

Canada is not going to be a powerhouse, as more nations start training in winter sports. It's simply a numbers game, and we are a small country. This could be our peak, as other nations catch-up to us.

[return to the red]

Every nation has had upsets and disappointments. Do you think Vonn was ever expected to Crash and not medal at all in one of her races, or third for that matter?

What about Shani Davis not taking the gold in an event he was favoured to win by a long shot?

As Canadians we simply focus on our own athletes without realizing that other countries have had disappointments in these games as well. To think that strictly OUR athletes are the only ones to fail at these games is very narrow sighted.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Not sure how much of an advantage that really is...

History says it's worth about 3-4 more medals than expected on average.

Blaming the pressure of being the home country is just an excuse when athletes underperform.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by troutman

Canada is not going to be a powerhouse, as more nations start training in winter sports. It's simply a numbers game, and we are a small country. This could be our peak, as other nations catch-up to us.

Hah, meanwhile Norway has 12 medals and a population of 4.8 million. The 1000m speedskating final is a perfect case in point regarding Canada's perpetual chokejob. Our athletes are obviously not training hard or often enough. The Koreans were simply better strategic skaters.

[return to the red]

Just want to give a heads up for all those thinking that Canadian women are expected to win Gold in womens curling. China are the defending world Champions and Sweden took the Gold in 2006. A bronze for Canada would be a success let alone anything higher.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by peter12

Hah, meanwhile Norway has 12 medals and a population of 4.8 million. The 1000m speedskating final is a perfect case in point regarding Canada's perpetual chokejob. Our athletes are obviously not training hard or often enough. The Koreans were simply better strategic skaters.

Hah? Most of Norway's medals are in nordic skiing, a sport not very many countries concentrate on.

Trust me, Canada's winter olympic medal counts are only going to get worse as more nations practice the fringe sports we are successful in now.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by peter12

Hah, meanwhile Norway has 12 medals and a population of 4.8 million. The 1000m speedskating final is a perfect case in point regarding Canada's perpetual chokejob. Our athletes are obviously not training hard or often enough. The Koreans were simply better strategic skaters.

Just a coincidence that Norway has a national passion for cross-country, biathalon and long track, all events that have multiple medals associated with them, right?

[JustAnotherGuy]

I am really sick of you posters who are moaning about the Canadian athletes. How much have you done for our Canadian athletes? Are you out there helping the sport? Are you? Come on. Tell me.

I will assume you are not. I will assume you are not doing anything to assist the athletes. Then seriously. You should be ashamed. You are the choke artist. Stop sitting at home and being a big bitch about. Instead stand up and be a proud Canadian.

Jerks.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by peter12

Hah, meanwhile Norway has 12 medals and a population of 4.8 million. The 1000m speedskating final is a perfect case in point regarding Canada's perpetual chokejob. Our athletes are obviously not training hard or often enough. The Koreans were simply better strategic skaters.

One advantage a country like Norway has is that it is physically small compared to Canada. It makes it easier to for their population to have access to their top athletic facilities.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

One advantage a country like Norway has is that it is physically small compared to Canada. It makes it easier to for their population to have access to their top athletic facilities.

See that's a good point.

[Jason14h]

I am really sick of you posters who are moaning about the Canadian athletes. How much have you done for our Canadian athletes? Are you out there helping the sport? Are you? Come on. Tell me.

I will assume you are not. I will assume you are not doing anything to assist the athletes. Then seriously. You should be ashamed. You are the choke artist. Stop sitting at home and being a big bitch about. Instead stand up and be a proud Canadian.

Where do you think the government funding for facilities and training come from?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I am really sick of you posters who are moaning about the Canadian athletes. How much have you done for our Canadian athletes? Are you out there helping the sport? Are you? Come on. Tell me.

"The more I 'beard', the more my beard contributes to Canadian athletes."

[Timbo]

Could someone post the events where we are or were guaranteed to medal?

Because last time I looked we have not won every event prior to the olympics. Good results yes... Leading in world cup points yes... but that does not equate into winning every time or guarantee a win at any particular time.

In so far as OTP... if it has engaged athletes, sponsers, spectators and future olympians it is a win.

If it is below TSN's /CTV's hype expectations well... screw them

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Where do you think the government funding for facilities and training come from?

And you think that is enough of a contribution that you can make to your countries athletes? How much does that work to? About $10 from you? Nice effort.

I am talking to the people who are moaning and whining about our athletes. They talk about the athlete choking. Not trying hard enough. When the poster is not contributing to the cause enough. Why aren't they out there cheering on the sport? Volunteering at events. etc etc etc