Like "A Tale of Two Cities" the contrast between Canada's Winter and Summer Programs is no less varying than Charles Dicken's depiction of Paris and London in the late 1700's.
While Canada's Summer Olympic Athletes have struggled for the past decade - Canada's Winter Olympic Athletes are flourishing. Consider that at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympic Games, Canadians nearly won more medals (41) than they won in the previos 5 Winter Olympiads combined (44). But not only are our Winter Athletes winning more medals than at any time in their history they are also converting on medal winning opportunities more frequently than ever before. When measuring medals won as a % of medals awarded Canadians won a total of 1.76% of medals awarded in the 70's, 2.97% in the 80's, in the 90's Canadian athletes converted 6.26% of the time and now in this first decade of the 21st century - Canadian athletes won 8.43% of all Olympic Winter Medals awarded.
This past decade, in the sports of speedskating, hockey, curling and skeleton, Canadian athletes were more succesful than any other nation in the world. In the sports of figure skating and snowboarding Canada remained a world power, and in the sports of bobsleigh, and cross country skiing, where Canada used to be an also ran, our athletes are now winning medals.
Notable achievements from this past decade are:
Olympic Gold Medallists: Marc Gagnon (Short Track Speed Skating), Marc Gagnon & Eric Bedard & Jonathan Guilmette & Francois Louis Tremblay & Mathieu Turcotte (Short Track Relay), Catriona LeMay Doan (Speed Skating), Jamie Sale & David Pelletier (Figure Skating), Duff Gibson (Skeleton), Woman's Ice Hockey Team (2), Men's Ice Hockey Team, Cindy Klassen (Speed Skating), Clara Hughes (Speed Skating), Jen Heil (Freestyly Skiing), Chandra Crawford (Cross Country Skiing)
Multiple Medallists: Cindy Klassen (6 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Clara Hughes (3 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Marc Gagnon ( 3 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Woman's Ice Hockey Team (2 medals), Beckie Scott (2 medals - Cross Country Skiing), Anouk Leblanc (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Kristina Groves - ( 2 medals - Long Track Speed Skating), Eric Bedard (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Alanna Kraus (2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Francois Louis Tremblay ( 2 medals - Short Track Speed Skating), Mathieu Turcotte (Short Track Speed Skating).
Medals by Sport (in order): Speed Skating - Short & Long Track (21), Curling (4), Cross Country Skiing (3), Ice Hockey (3), Skeleton (3), Freestyle Skiing (3), Figure Skating (2) Bobsleigh (1), Snowboard (1)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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
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
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Hypothetically Speaking
Imagine for a second. You are Mark Carney, Govenor for the Bank of Canada. You oversee Monetary Policy in Canada, and financial markets react to seemingly every word you speak. Recognizing your high work load, you hire an Executive Assistant to assist you in managing your day. The Executive Assistant you hire is young, but is enthusiastic and has previous banking experience albeit in a local bank handling personal mortgages.
Continuing on with our imaginary situation - economic leaders around the world agree to congregate in New Delhi, India, to help solve the world's economic woes. As the Governor of the Bank of Canada you begin to asemble your team to work with you at this all too important meeting. You agree to bring with you leading experts in the field of economics, statistics, financial modelling. You bring political leaders, or do you.? Imagine, for a second you bring your executive assistant to act as one of your chief economists. Impossible? In the world of finance likely yes, but in Canada's amateur sport system, scenarios like this happen on an all too frequent occurence. The most recent example was the announcement of the mission staff for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Alex Baumann, executive director of the Own the Podium program, oversees Canada's Summer Olympic Program. He is in essence the Mark Carney of Canada's Summer Olympic Program. And to assist him with this cause, the Own the Podium program hired Shelley Milton in January 2008 to be his executive assistant. Previous to this post Shelley was an administrative/project coordinator for Field Hockey Canada. However, with a little more than 12 months on post as an executive assistant for the Own the Podium Program, Shelley was chosen as a Mission Staff Memeber for Commonwealth Games Canada at the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India. And her role will be in the field of coaching and applied science.
Shouldn't we as tax paying citizens, question decisions like these? After all the Commonwealth Games are a premiere sporting event bringing together thousands of athletes across the commonwealth; they help prepare our Olympians for future Olympiads!
Our summer athletes deserve better.........................don't they?
Continuing on with our imaginary situation - economic leaders around the world agree to congregate in New Delhi, India, to help solve the world's economic woes. As the Governor of the Bank of Canada you begin to asemble your team to work with you at this all too important meeting. You agree to bring with you leading experts in the field of economics, statistics, financial modelling. You bring political leaders, or do you.? Imagine, for a second you bring your executive assistant to act as one of your chief economists. Impossible? In the world of finance likely yes, but in Canada's amateur sport system, scenarios like this happen on an all too frequent occurence. The most recent example was the announcement of the mission staff for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Alex Baumann, executive director of the Own the Podium program, oversees Canada's Summer Olympic Program. He is in essence the Mark Carney of Canada's Summer Olympic Program. And to assist him with this cause, the Own the Podium program hired Shelley Milton in January 2008 to be his executive assistant. Previous to this post Shelley was an administrative/project coordinator for Field Hockey Canada. However, with a little more than 12 months on post as an executive assistant for the Own the Podium Program, Shelley was chosen as a Mission Staff Memeber for Commonwealth Games Canada at the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India. And her role will be in the field of coaching and applied science.
Shouldn't we as tax paying citizens, question decisions like these? After all the Commonwealth Games are a premiere sporting event bringing together thousands of athletes across the commonwealth; they help prepare our Olympians for future Olympiads!
Our summer athletes deserve better.........................don't they?
Friday, November 20, 2009
Athletes Canada - An Experiment Gone Wrong.
Athletes Canada, an independent organization designed to service the needs of Canada’s amateur athletes, was introduced in 1992, based on the desire of Canada’s amateur athletes to have their own voice separate from Canada’s sporting brass. The organization was formed under the leadership of Ann Peel, a race walker on Canada’s track and field team, and consisted of a small independent group of athletes, including, among others, of Olympic gold medallist Kay Worthington in rowing, Olympic medallist Steve Podborski in alpine skiing, and Dan Thompson in aquatics. At the time, the voice of Canada’s amateur athletes was the Athletes’ Council, which was part of the Canadian Olympic Committee. However, Peel and her crew recognized realized how divergent the athletes’ voice was from the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC).
Recognizing a need to have its own voice - seperate from the COC, Athletes Canada hit the Canadian sports landscape with a bang, demanding increased funding for Canada’s athletes and better representation within Canada’s sporting organizations. “In those first few years we were radical, not nice, and did a lot of things right,” says Peel. “In 1995, athletes received their first carding increase in over ten years and Sport Solution was created to provide athletes with legal information and assistance. We filed appeals on behalf of athletes and demonstrated to sport organizations that athletes had rights.”
Many of the programs created by Peel and her group continue to exist today. However, the organization today is only a shadow of its former self. As Peel herself notes, “I don’t think they are serving Canada’s athletes well.” She goes on to add. “Today, if someone wants a career in sports administration, they use Athletes Canada as a stepping stone compromising their ability to be an effective critic."
The evidence bears out Peel's concerns. Thomas Jones, the past Executive Director with Athletes Canada is now the CEO for Commonwealth Games Canada. Claire - Carver Dias, was elected president of Athletes Canada while also working with the Canadian Olympic Committee and later Bobsleigh Canada/Skeleton. Iain Brambell was a board member with Athletes Canada while also working for B.C Athletes Voice. Trevino Betty was a board member with Commonwealth Games Canada while also serving as a board membe with Athletes Canada. Alex Loo is double dipping with Athletes Canada and the COC. Michael Smith was President of Athletes Canada while also serving as a mission staff member with the COC - and was just announced to be a mission staff for Commonwealth Games Canada at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Alexandra Orlando - a board member with Athltetes Canada is also going to the 2010 Games as a Mission Staff Member with Commonwealth Games Canada. So too is Suzanne Weckend. So too is Todd Allison. The list goes on and on and on.
Isn't it time that the Athletes retain its independance from the sport system. Ann Peel thinks so. "To have an effective, independent voice, you cannot compromise your independence by connecting advocacy with your need for a career. The career has to come first. That is why it is always so important that athletic leadership retain its independence from the sporting system.”
If only the board members Athletes Canada who represent Canada's amateur athletes remembered this.
Recognizing a need to have its own voice - seperate from the COC, Athletes Canada hit the Canadian sports landscape with a bang, demanding increased funding for Canada’s athletes and better representation within Canada’s sporting organizations. “In those first few years we were radical, not nice, and did a lot of things right,” says Peel. “In 1995, athletes received their first carding increase in over ten years and Sport Solution was created to provide athletes with legal information and assistance. We filed appeals on behalf of athletes and demonstrated to sport organizations that athletes had rights.”
Many of the programs created by Peel and her group continue to exist today. However, the organization today is only a shadow of its former self. As Peel herself notes, “I don’t think they are serving Canada’s athletes well.” She goes on to add. “Today, if someone wants a career in sports administration, they use Athletes Canada as a stepping stone compromising their ability to be an effective critic."
The evidence bears out Peel's concerns. Thomas Jones, the past Executive Director with Athletes Canada is now the CEO for Commonwealth Games Canada. Claire - Carver Dias, was elected president of Athletes Canada while also working with the Canadian Olympic Committee and later Bobsleigh Canada/Skeleton. Iain Brambell was a board member with Athletes Canada while also working for B.C Athletes Voice. Trevino Betty was a board member with Commonwealth Games Canada while also serving as a board membe with Athletes Canada. Alex Loo is double dipping with Athletes Canada and the COC. Michael Smith was President of Athletes Canada while also serving as a mission staff member with the COC - and was just announced to be a mission staff for Commonwealth Games Canada at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Alexandra Orlando - a board member with Athltetes Canada is also going to the 2010 Games as a Mission Staff Member with Commonwealth Games Canada. So too is Suzanne Weckend. So too is Todd Allison. The list goes on and on and on.
Isn't it time that the Athletes retain its independance from the sport system. Ann Peel thinks so. "To have an effective, independent voice, you cannot compromise your independence by connecting advocacy with your need for a career. The career has to come first. That is why it is always so important that athletic leadership retain its independence from the sporting system.”
If only the board members Athletes Canada who represent Canada's amateur athletes remembered this.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Anyone Keeping Score
This past weekend Canada's speed skaters dominated the competion winning an incredible 11 medals at world cup stops in Heerenveen, Netherlands and Marquette Michigan.
At the last ISU World Cup stop, prior to the start of the 2010 Olympics for Canada's short track speed skaters, Canadian athletes brought home an incredible 7 medals; 4 of which were won in the individual 500m event. On the Men's side Francois Louis Tremblay took home gold while Charles Hamelin won bronze. Our woman led by Kalyna Roberge won silver and Maryanne St. Gelais took the bronze. In other events, Francois Hamelin won bronze in the individual 1,000m. Canada's men's and woman's relay teams closed out the event winning gold and bronze respectively.
Canada's long track speed skaters fared equally as well at the 3rd World Cup Stop in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Christine Nesbitt took home gold in the1,000m and silver in the 1,500m narrowly edging out Kristina Groves in the process who won bronze. The two skaters then teamed up together in the Woman's pursuit to take home gold.
And despite the sucesses this past weekend, the facts are; things can only get better. Denny Morrison, a world champion in men's 1,500m has yet to find his form this season, and Canada's most decorated athlete in the sport, Jeremy Wotherspoon is returning to action following a serious injury in December 2008 that forced him to miss the past 10 months. Don't forget about Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen - Canada's most decorated Olympic athletes. We all know come Olympic time they will be ready. And then there are the intangibles. Jamie and Jessica Gregg, a brother and sister tandem whose father is former NHL Defenceman Randy Gregg, could challenge for individual medals in Vancouver as could Justin Warsylewicz, an Olympic silver medalist from Torino.
With the Vancouver Olympics now only 100 days away things are certainly looking favorable for Canada's Speed Skating Team. And the question on most Canadians minds is...can they top the 12 medals they won at the 2006 Torino Winter Games. This writer says...easily.....Better start keeping score!
At the last ISU World Cup stop, prior to the start of the 2010 Olympics for Canada's short track speed skaters, Canadian athletes brought home an incredible 7 medals; 4 of which were won in the individual 500m event. On the Men's side Francois Louis Tremblay took home gold while Charles Hamelin won bronze. Our woman led by Kalyna Roberge won silver and Maryanne St. Gelais took the bronze. In other events, Francois Hamelin won bronze in the individual 1,000m. Canada's men's and woman's relay teams closed out the event winning gold and bronze respectively.
Canada's long track speed skaters fared equally as well at the 3rd World Cup Stop in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Christine Nesbitt took home gold in the1,000m and silver in the 1,500m narrowly edging out Kristina Groves in the process who won bronze. The two skaters then teamed up together in the Woman's pursuit to take home gold.
And despite the sucesses this past weekend, the facts are; things can only get better. Denny Morrison, a world champion in men's 1,500m has yet to find his form this season, and Canada's most decorated athlete in the sport, Jeremy Wotherspoon is returning to action following a serious injury in December 2008 that forced him to miss the past 10 months. Don't forget about Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen - Canada's most decorated Olympic athletes. We all know come Olympic time they will be ready. And then there are the intangibles. Jamie and Jessica Gregg, a brother and sister tandem whose father is former NHL Defenceman Randy Gregg, could challenge for individual medals in Vancouver as could Justin Warsylewicz, an Olympic silver medalist from Torino.
With the Vancouver Olympics now only 100 days away things are certainly looking favorable for Canada's Speed Skating Team. And the question on most Canadians minds is...can they top the 12 medals they won at the 2006 Torino Winter Games. This writer says...easily.....Better start keeping score!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Pan-Am Euphoria
On Friday November 6, 2009 Toronto, Ontario was selected as host city for the upcoming 2015 Pan-American Games. The announcement brought instant euphoria to sporting officials who have longed appealed to the federal government for enhanced sport funding in Southern Ontario.
In the next six years Southern Ontario will witness the construction of a brand new aquatics facility, plus a pair of 50m training pools, an interntional sized indoor velodrome and many other much needed athletic facilities. But will constrcution of these facilities benefit Canada's high perforamance programs leading into - and following the games themselves. History indicates no.
Since 1976 Canada has hosted an Olympic Games (Montreal), two Commonwealth Games (Edmonton in 1978 and Victoria in 1994) , a Pan-American Games (Winnipeg in 1999), a Universaide Games (Edmonton in 1983)and countless world championships - and none of these events have been leveraged to bring Canada's Summer Sports Organizations together. In fact it could be argued that Canada's Summer Olympic System is worse off today than it was in early 80's - despite a plefora of world class events hosted on Canadian soil.
Truthfully, only the 1988 Calgary Games have effectively managed the legacy of a multi-sport Games thereby benefiting Canada's winter Olympic athletes. Some 20 years after the conclusion of the1988 Olympics - all 15 of Canada's winter sport organizations train in a sporting insitute right here in Calgary, Alberta. In Calgary, Canada's winter athletes have access to every imaginable service and resoucre they require to be competitive with the rest of the world. It is for this reason that Canada's winter Olympic athletes are poised to stand atop the podium in Vancouver more often than any other nation in the world.
Meanwhile, Canada's Summer Athletes are envious of their Winter Olympic cousins. They train out of make-shift facilities that lack many of the modern amenities that our winter athletes enjoy. Furthermore, they find themselves scattered across the nation with one group of athletes in Victoria another in Halifax and the remainder in regions in between. It is with little wonder then that our summer athletes aren't as succeful as they could/should be.
Here's hoping that the 2015 Pan-American Games changes all that.....here's hoping.
In the next six years Southern Ontario will witness the construction of a brand new aquatics facility, plus a pair of 50m training pools, an interntional sized indoor velodrome and many other much needed athletic facilities. But will constrcution of these facilities benefit Canada's high perforamance programs leading into - and following the games themselves. History indicates no.
Since 1976 Canada has hosted an Olympic Games (Montreal), two Commonwealth Games (Edmonton in 1978 and Victoria in 1994) , a Pan-American Games (Winnipeg in 1999), a Universaide Games (Edmonton in 1983)and countless world championships - and none of these events have been leveraged to bring Canada's Summer Sports Organizations together. In fact it could be argued that Canada's Summer Olympic System is worse off today than it was in early 80's - despite a plefora of world class events hosted on Canadian soil.
Truthfully, only the 1988 Calgary Games have effectively managed the legacy of a multi-sport Games thereby benefiting Canada's winter Olympic athletes. Some 20 years after the conclusion of the1988 Olympics - all 15 of Canada's winter sport organizations train in a sporting insitute right here in Calgary, Alberta. In Calgary, Canada's winter athletes have access to every imaginable service and resoucre they require to be competitive with the rest of the world. It is for this reason that Canada's winter Olympic athletes are poised to stand atop the podium in Vancouver more often than any other nation in the world.
Meanwhile, Canada's Summer Athletes are envious of their Winter Olympic cousins. They train out of make-shift facilities that lack many of the modern amenities that our winter athletes enjoy. Furthermore, they find themselves scattered across the nation with one group of athletes in Victoria another in Halifax and the remainder in regions in between. It is with little wonder then that our summer athletes aren't as succeful as they could/should be.
Here's hoping that the 2015 Pan-American Games changes all that.....here's hoping.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Rich Get Richer
This past weekend Rowing Canada staged the 2009 National Rowing Championships in London, Ontario. The regatta invites athletes from across the country who compete in either singles or pairs for the honor of being acclaimed National Champion.
The event is relatively unique in its format in that it is restricted to small boats (singles and pairs) and invites athletes with varying skill levels, ages and abilities. But after observing the proceedings one thing is abundantly clear. Canada's men's program will be a force in the next Olympic quadrennial.
In attendance were Olympic Gold Medallists Ben Rutledege, Malcolm Howard, Andrew Byrnes and Kevin Light - who from appearances - appear commited to train on a full time basis through to London 2012. They join a group of athletes that includes Gabe Bergen, James Dunaway and Steve VanKnotsenburg who were members of Canada's silver medal winning 8+ at the 2009 World Championships and as well Michael Brathwaite - Bronze Medallist at the 2009 U23 World Championships. All of who were in attendance in London.
And now add to the mix are the intangibles who weren't there but from the sounds of things might be returning. In conversing with with Assistant National Team Coach Alison Dobbs, Olympic Gold Medallists Jake Wetzel, Adam Kreek, Kyle Hamilton and Brian Price have asked to be placed back on famed head coach Mike Spracklen's mailing list - indicating to many that a return is inevitable.
And despite the depth of talent in attendance and the discusson surrounding those who weren't - the winner of the Men's pair at the 2009 National Rowing Championships were a pair of 19 year olds; Colin McCabe, and Anthony Jacobs. The future truly is bright within Rowing Canada.
The event is relatively unique in its format in that it is restricted to small boats (singles and pairs) and invites athletes with varying skill levels, ages and abilities. But after observing the proceedings one thing is abundantly clear. Canada's men's program will be a force in the next Olympic quadrennial.
In attendance were Olympic Gold Medallists Ben Rutledege, Malcolm Howard, Andrew Byrnes and Kevin Light - who from appearances - appear commited to train on a full time basis through to London 2012. They join a group of athletes that includes Gabe Bergen, James Dunaway and Steve VanKnotsenburg who were members of Canada's silver medal winning 8+ at the 2009 World Championships and as well Michael Brathwaite - Bronze Medallist at the 2009 U23 World Championships. All of who were in attendance in London.
And now add to the mix are the intangibles who weren't there but from the sounds of things might be returning. In conversing with with Assistant National Team Coach Alison Dobbs, Olympic Gold Medallists Jake Wetzel, Adam Kreek, Kyle Hamilton and Brian Price have asked to be placed back on famed head coach Mike Spracklen's mailing list - indicating to many that a return is inevitable.
And despite the depth of talent in attendance and the discusson surrounding those who weren't - the winner of the Men's pair at the 2009 National Rowing Championships were a pair of 19 year olds; Colin McCabe, and Anthony Jacobs. The future truly is bright within Rowing Canada.
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