Putting aside the obvious disappointment at watching Canada's hockey team exit the Olympics without a medal, Wednesday at Torino was still a pretty impressive day for Canadian Athletes at the XX Olympiad.
Starting with a surprise win by Chandra Crawford in the cross country, Wednesday was the day that Canada truly owned the podium. Crawford came from seemingly nowhere on the depth chart to worlds best at Torino. It began a day which was filled with promise and ended in sadness, but for those that succeeded it was a day to remember.
Following Crawfords amazing step up on the world stage, it was once again time for Cindy Klassen to take charge of her sport, Klassen became the most successful athlete in Canadian Olympic history picking up her fourth medal of the games. Klassen adds gold to her collection and will spend more than her fair share of time at customs making her declarations! Her team mate Kristina Groves was there to share the spotlight at the finish line, collecting a silver medal in that same 1500 metre long track event.
The winners parade continued in the short track speed skating competition as Canada claimed silver in the roller derby like competition. The Canadian womens short track team, battled through the race to edge into second place, just short of the Koreans to take the second a spot on the podium.
The medal haul increased our total to eighteen, and with the dwindling days of the Olympics coming up fast we are still within striking distance of a top three finish, maybe even a shot at the top dog position. For a hockey mad country it won't take the sting of defeat out of early hockey exit, but today's outstanding results will at least give us something to cheer about while we soothe our hockey egos.
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