The Worst of Times

“Sport is in a better place now. “Things have changed. We’re not just talking the talk, we’re walking the walk when it comes to athletes. We’re doing a better job.” Diane Jones Konihowski - moments before the start of the 2000 Olympic Games.



With the countdown now having begun to mark the start of a new decade, it is now time to reflect on the decade that just was. For our Summer Olympic Athletes it was a decade to forget. Consider that at three Summer Olympiads this past decade, Canadians won a total of 44 medals or just 1.56% of the 2809 Olympic medals awarded. In fact when measuring medals won as a % of medals awarded - this past decade was Canada's worst showing since the 1970's. Consider that in the 90's Canadians won a total of 2.4% of medals awarded, in the 80's 3.7% and in the 70's, a decade known as one that our Summer Athletes would like to forget, Canadian athletes converted 1.32% of the time.

When examining matters by sport, the results also show that this past decade was Canada's second worst in the history of the modern day games in the sport of Track & Field. Canada hasn't had a decade this bad since the 1950's when no Canadian athlete won a medal. In every other decade Canadian athletes won at least one silver medal in the sport - the exception being this this past one where Canada's best was a single bronze medal. Things aren't any better in boxing where this past decade was arguably Canada's worst since the sport was first introduced in 1920. And when it comes to our swimmers, the medal tally in the pool (2) was Canada's lowest since the 1950's.

Here is hoping the next 10 years are better for all of our Summer Olympic Athletes. Here is hoping.

Notable Achievements by our Summer Athletes in the last decade are:



Gold Medallists: Daniel Igali (Men's Wrestling), Sebastian Lareau & Daniel Nestor (Men's Tennis), Simon Whitfield (Men's Triathlon), Lori Ann Muenzer (Woman's Cycling), Kyle Shewfelt (Men's Gymnastics) Adam van Koeverden (Kayak), Men's 8+ (Rowing) Carol Hunyh (Woman's Wrestling) Eric Lamaze (Equestrian)



Multiple Medallists: Karen Cockburn (3 medals in Trampoline) Adam van Koeverden (1 silver and 1 bronze to go along with his 1 gold medal in the sport of Triathlon) Alex Despatie (2 silver medals - Diving), Emily Heymans ( 2 silver - 1 bronze - Diving), Jake Wetzel (1 silver - 1 gold - Rowing), Caroline Brunet ( 2 silver medals - Kayak), Tanya Verbeek (Woman's Wrestling, Eric Lamaze ( 1 Gold and 1 Silver medal - Equestrian)



Medal Tally by Sport and Ranked From Highest to Lowest (Medals Won at the past three Olympiads): Canoe/Kayak - 7 medals, Rowing - 6 medals, Trampoline - 5 medals, Diving, - 5 medals, Wrestling - 4 medals, Cycling - 3 medals, Triathlon - 2 medals, Equestrian - 2 medals, Swimming - 2 medals, Taekwondo - 2 medals, Tennis - 1 medal, Gymnastics - 1 medal Judo - 1 medal, Sailing - 1 medal, Syncronized Swimming - 1 medal, Track & Field - 1 medal