The Things I think

It may seem hard to believe but Daniel Igali's gold medal in free style wrestling at the 2000 Olympic Games was the last time a male athlete of colour won an Olympic medal for Canada at the Summer Olympics. Since the 2000 Olympic Games, medals won by Canada's male athletes at the Summer Games have been restricted to sports that are seen as being privileged by many, including equestrian, trampoline, diving, rowing, kayaking, sailing and to a lesser extent swimming. What ever happened to Canada's medal winning ways by minority athletes like Lennox Lewis, Donovan Bailey, Alwyn Morris, Mark McCoy and others? This blogger has some theories as to why this is so.

Rowing Canada officials are on record of saying that they want to see Canada's fortunes in scull rowing improve but then are fail to invite a single female sculler to their Olympic camp. Further if improving Canada's fortunes in scull rowing is truly in the cards why do Canada's rowing officials have prominent scullers like Jerry Browne, Kevin Kowalyuk, and Malcolm Howard fill seats in sweep boats. Something doesn't make sense.

Why is the International Amateur Boxing Federation discussing wether or not female boxers should be wearing skirts at the 2012 Olympic Games. Doesn't the organization have more important things to worry about? After all women's boxing is making it's Olympic debut in 2012 and this blogger things that the organization would be better suited to making sure the competition is well run and fair for all. Something that organization hasn't had a successful record of doing at past Olympiads (for male counterparts).

Swimming Canada

Swimming Canada may not be achieving the results it desires (yet) but you have to applaud the organization from the athletes right up through to the management.

From an athlete stand-point no other amateur sporting organization in Canada has done as much to garner attention. Consider that at the 2005 World Championships in Montreal athletes marched on the pool deck wearing Montreal Canadian jerseys which energized the home crowd. Some 6 years later at the Pan-American Games in Mexico athletes were seen wearing traditional Mexican wrestling masks which earned the athletes an ovation from the crowd.

From a coaching standpoint the organization has the respect of this blogger to recognize those coaches who are developing world class athletes. Randy Bennett - who is the swim coach of Canada's Star Pupil will head Canada's Swim Team into the 2012 London Games. Contrast this to Athletics Canada who has gone with the same staid coaches to the past 5 Olympiads. Swim Canada

And then there is the Executive Level of the organization who recently announced Vision 2020 - a road map for the organization to be amongst the top 6 nations at the 2020 Olympic Games. The plan itself looks to strengthen the grassroots program while creating a top development model.

No wonder the organization that virtually imploded in 2004 has done a complete 180 in the past 7 years and will look to win three Olympic medals in 2012. Here is hoping they succeed. They certainly deserve it!