My story the other day on the bronze-medal win in the women’s lightweight double by Tracy Cameron and Melanie Kok ended with the anecdote about Cameron playing mini Olympics with older brother Troy as a kid.
“We had a thing where when the other person would win, there was a medal presentation and you had to stop and raise the other person’s hand and declare them world champion,” Cameron said. “And I HATE it because I was always the one raising his hand. Finally, we’d have to call my Mom in and she’d have do the medal presenting.”
After Tracy climbed the Olympic podium, Troy gladly raised Tracy’s hand. (The photographic evidence is here.)
On Cloud Eight: The Canadian men’s eight are not only Olympic champions on the water, but you’d be hard pressed to find a classier bunch of guys anywhere. Truly, a great bunch of role models.
Well, it was not hard to figure out why upon meeting some of their parents out at the Shunyi course.
Not only was there the physical resemblance in many cases, but their warm and genuine manner was certainly familiar from the kind of treatment a Toronto Star reporter and photographer got from the rowers and coach Mike Spracklen during a week long visit to their training base in Victoria in April.
Here, you see Ben Rutledge’s Dad being interviewed by the CBC’s multi-talented Nick Purdon. Can’t remember Mr. Rutledge’s name but he does have a good sense of humour. “Do you think this will help the Leafs?” he asked after the gold-medal win.
Alcohol Meat Buddy: Got a chance to grab some supper the other night (Don’t tell the bosses … Ended up working til 2:30 a.m., anyway … I know, start the violins.)
Anyway, I digress. Phil Morrissette, a young McGill student who has studied Mandarin for four years and is working as a volunteer for the organizing committee, was kind enough to be our tour guide once again. He took some of us to a wonderful Chinese restaurant, where he shared a story about how Chinese men have friends that they go out with regularly to drink a lot of beer and then eat meat skewers.
The name for these friends, said Phil, translates as “Alcohol Meat Buddy.”
It was definitely a memorable summer Olympics. We saw a strange lip synching controversy, uproars over age restrictions in gymnastics, 8 gold medals for Michael Phelps, the new king of the sprints in usain Bolt, a kick in the face for a poor referee and the list goes on. Now that all of the Canadians have completed their events, I have to get my sleeping back on an earlier cycle now.
Posted by: calgary painters | August 23, 2008 at 08:39 PM
CHINA IS THE FIRST IN MEDAL ACOUNT!!
IN ALL TIMES, WHO HAD MORE GOLD MEDAL IN OLYMPICS GAMES WHERE THE FIRST, THIS YEAR JUST BECAUSE THE US HAS LESS GOLD MEDALS, MOST OF AMERICANS JOURNALS SAY USA IS THE FIRST !!! ARE YOU KIDDING??!! ARE YOU REAL JOURNALISTS??!! DONT YOU HAVE SHAME OF THIS??!!!
skorpioxr@hotmail.com
Posted by: Markus | August 23, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Wow! I've enjoyed reading your post. that was consider as a memorable summer olympics.
-mj-
Posted by: teen treatment center | July 14, 2009 at 09:04 PM
A great and memorable experience for them to be the champion on the competition it is quite an honor and uplifting spirit pride.
Great and an excellent performance that you've showed.
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