I always think about Daniel Igali when the Olympics roll around. Him winning a gold for Canada as a recent citizen in Sydney, then running around the flag in the ring. One of my all-time moments.
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I’ll second this. I actually got to talk to her briefly a couple of days ago through a CBC social media thing and she was really cool. Became a fan after 2016 so it was awesome to talk to an Olympic champion.
Mark Tewksbury - I listened to a presentation he gave at a convention once and he casually passed his medals around this huge auditorium, so everyone could have a close look.
Agreed, yeah he's a sentimental #2 as he visited our school when I was a little kid, shortly after winning his gold medal. Had his medals there as well. Super nice dude
For me it’s Donovan Bailey for sure. I just love(d) how unapologetically Canadian he was.
I also attended a speech given by Catriona LeMay Doan and she was awesome. She passed around her medals also, and that was pretty cool. I might pick her for a winter games favorite.
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For me it’s Donovan Bailey for sure. I just love(d) how unapologetically Canadian he was.
He's my favorite Canadian for sure, and ironically that was so un-Canadian like to be like that. Brash and confident, that's what I loved about him most.
Honorable mention to the Crazy Canucks ski team in the 88 Olympics.
Favorite all time would be either Usain Bolt or Eddie the Eagle.
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Ben Johnson. I was 12 in 88 and I don’t think I remember being so excited for a sporting event in my life. My teacher had done track in college and was also very excited, I remember being concerned because Ben hadn’t done real well in the heats leading up to the final race and and my teacher was like don’t worry he’s saving for the main event etc. They were running promo clips with Ben’s mother and it truly felt like a good vs evil event. After the win I remember the excitement from everyone old farmers, gas station attendants, the people in our conservative church who saw sports as a distraction etc. everyone seemed to feel some of that victory even more than the Canada Cup or Olympic Gold. I think the 2010 hockey gold was similar in that way.
Joe Meli. Not well known but a 4 time judo olympian from Lethbridge who lost bronze medal match in 84. Very nice, accessible still teaches kids or at least I think he does. Always had time for any beginner at a tournament who wanted to meet or talk to a real olympian.
Lots to choose from but the most memorable to me are:
Clara Hughes - multi-sport athlete competing in both summer and winter games. I remember watching a documentary about her and it highlighted the struggles of being an elite athlete - really humanized these talented individuals in my mind. (Plus I had a crush on her)
John Montgomery - his win and then walk through Whistler, the beer jug, how down to earth he was - one of my favourite all time sports moments
Alex Bilodeau - loved his story, his brother, etc. he really got team Canada going in 2010, took the pressure off of everyone else and opened the floodgates with the first gold medal ever won by a Canadian on home soil
For me probably Christine Sinclair but lots of good names on this thread and another to throw in: Myriam Bedard, for double gold and bronze in an event dominated by Europe.
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He's my favorite Canadian for sure, and ironically that was so un-Canadian like to be like that. Brash and confident, that's what I loved about him most.
Honorable mention to the Crazy Canucks ski team in the 88 Olympics.
Favorite all time would be either Usain Bolt or Eddie the Eagle.
The Crazy Canucks had all retired 4-8 years before Calgary 88.
He's my favorite Canadian for sure, and ironically that was so un-Canadian like to be like that. Brash and confident, that's what I loved about him most.
Honorable mention to the Crazy Canucks ski team in the 88 Olympics.
Favorite all time would be either Usain Bolt or Eddie the Eagle.
My memorabke Bailey moment was the trash talk after the 150 with Michael Johnson at Skydome. I had just moved to the US and must have played the audio of him saying “let’s run this race again and I’ll kick his ass one more time” about a million times for some of my new friends.
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