Â鶹´«Ã½

Sports

    • Canada totals 26 medals, including four gold, in Beijing's Winter Olympics

    Share
    BEIJING -

    Canada's team in Beijing's Winter Olympics navigated the COVID-19 virus, made it to the start line and brought home a lot of medals.

    About 125 people in Canada's delegation of 555 athletes, coaches, support and mission staff had contracted the virus in the weeks before the opening ceremonies, according to Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive officer David Shoemaker.

    All but one of 215 athletes were able to fully compete in their events. Keegan Messing didn't make it to Beijing in time for figure skating's team event, but arrived to skate in the men's competition.

     

    "Our goal was to ensure no athlete was deprived of an opportunity to compete," Shoemaker said Sunday at the main press centre. "I feel quite good with how we handled that."

    A handful of athletes were shedding the virus upon landing in Beijing and did isolate initially, Shoemaker said, with the COC convincing the organizing committee's medical panel they were safe to compete.

    Canada's 26 medals -- four gold, eight silver and 14 bronze -- ranked fourth in the medal table behind Norway (37), Russia (32) and Germany (27) and ahead of the United States (24)

    Four gold slotted Canada 11th, and was the lowest since three in 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway. Canada's bottom line in Beijing was bolstered by a record number of bronze medals.

    "Completely satisfied with that performance," Shoemaker said. "I think that puts us in the company that we always aspire to compete with.

    "Let's not gloss over how difficult these last two years were for Team Canada that in my estimation had to endure the most restrictive COVID protocols of any nation."

    The 26 medals in Beijing matched Canada's output in Vancouver and Whistler B.C. in 2010 for the second-highest in Winter Olympic history, although the host team won 14 gold there.

    "It's been a remarkable performance," Own The Podium chief executive officer Anne Merklinger said.

    Canada tallied a record 29 medals in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea, including 11 gold.

    Canada's sport leaders began backing off hard targets even before the pandemic made medal predictions difficult.

    Total medals, not gold, was the measure of success when finishing first among countries in 2010 and 2014 was the stated goal.

    Ottawa speedskater Isabelle Weidemann, who carried the flag into the closing ceremonies, and short-track skater Steven Dubois of Terrebone, Que., each earned a complete set of medals with their gold coming in team events.

    Emotionally charged moments included Canada edging the United States 3-2 for gold in women's hockey and cancer survivor Max Parrot of Bromont, Que., claiming snowboard gold and bronze.

    Short-tracker Charles Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Que., collected his sixth career medal -- a relay gold -- in his Olympic swan song.

    New mixed-gender team events were fertile medal ground with a bronze in ski jumping for Canada's first, as well as bronze in aerials and snowboard cross.

    A men's curling bronze by Brad Gushue's team out of Newfoundland and Labrador avoided a podium shutout in that sport.

    Pilot Justin Kripps of Summerland, B.C. and brakemen Cam Stones of Whitby, Ont., Ryan Sommer of White Rock, B.C., and Saskatoon's Ben Coakwell produced Canada's 26th medal Sunday in four-man bobsled.

    The COC offers performance awards of $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze, with coaches rewarded at half those amounts.

    Canadian athletes placed fourth eight times and fifth nine times in Beijing.

    The infectious Omicron variant sent Canadian athletes into virtual lockdowns in January. Many have not seen their families in weeks.

    "There's been a lot of struggle on the team just to get here," Weidemann said Sunday. "But you can really feel kind of the gratitude just to be able to do what we love.

    "The pandemic was hard and it continues to be so hard. It's just made us very grateful."

    Canadians are not done competing in Beijing. The 10-day Winter Paralympics open March 4.

    A future 27th medal from Beijing is a possibility. Canada could move up from fourth in figure skating's team event if Russia is eventually disqualified from gold for a doping infraction.

    Teenage star Kamila Valieva testing positive for a banned heart drug on Dec. 25 wasn't revealed until the day after she helped Russia win gold in Beijing.

    That drama and the International Olympic Committee's handling of the situation became a story that enveloped the Games. A medal ceremony has yet to be held.

    "I find that this whole story is so sad and disappointing for us all," Shoemaker said. "While we may be elevated in the outcome, in a matter of, we don't even know, weeks, months, years, there's an American team and a Japanese team that earned the right to stand on a podium here in Beijing.

    "They were deprived of that right and I'm deeply disturbed by that."

    Beijing's Winter Games came six months after Tokyo's Summer Games postponed from 2020 to 2021 because of the pandemic.

    The emotional and mental hurdles athletes cleared to compete in a pair of pandemic Olympic Games were no less significant than physical barriers, Merklinger said.

    "Improved focus on mental health and mental wellness for everyone is a significant takeaway from the pandemic," she said. "It's a significant takeaway from Tokyo and Beijing."

    Shoemaker was aware Canada's athletes in Beijing competed for headlines at home with trucker convoy protests and conflict over COVID-19 restrictions.

    "I'd like to think that it went over much the same way as Tokyo did, which is that there was a nation that felt a collective need to be inspired by our athletes in their incredible performances and they were," he said.

    This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2022.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

    Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    Canada

    • A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    • Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.

    • The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    • A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province’s police watchdog.

    World

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair’s family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale—Langley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the ‘Gift-a-Family’ campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts – not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    • LIVE

      LIVE

      Thousands of people are gathered in downtown Vancouver to observe the city’s 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • A suspect was arrested for allegedly brandishing a knife outside a Vancouver elementary school on Friday – just as the young students were heading home for the day.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift’s upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada’s largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • A man believed to be in his 40s has been rushed to a trauma centre following a stabbing in downtown Toronto.

    • Calgarians will be observing Remembrance Day at a number of different ceremonies across the city, including at the Hangar Flight Museum.

    • Getting out to the mountains is even easier with a new bus route from a growing Germany-based service.

    • A home in the northeast Calgary community of Saddle Ridge was damaged in a fire on Sunday.

    • Crowds gathered in Ottawa and eastern Ontario on Monday to honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of Canada.

    • CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • A 36-year-old Montreal man who was out on bail after allegedly uttering death threats to a woman is now accused of murdering her on the South Shore.

    • With fewer interments and rising maintenance fees, the money for Canada's largest military cemetery will run out in three to four years.

    • Montreal Metro passengers can now flag a safety concern by texting a new phone number launched by the STM.

    • LIVE @ 10:45 A.M. MT

      LIVE @ 10:45 A.M. MT

      Monday is Remembrance Day, a time to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

    • WEATHER

      WEATHER

      This is shaping up to be one of the warmest Remembrance Days in the past decade, at least, for temperatures.

    • Maritimers will stop Monday to remember those who have served, and continue to serve, in Canada's armed forces for Remembrance Day.

    • A Cape Breton senior recalls her life in German-occupied France, and her mother’s death, during the Second World War.

    • Thousand of people gathered at the Menin Gate in the Ypres, Belgium for Monday’s Remembrance Day Ceremony.

    • Remembrance Day is today, and a number of ceremonies are taking place around the province to honour those who gave their lives to serve our country.

    • A pillar in Canada’s history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • Winnipeg police have identified two men involved in a stabbing incident earlier this week.

    • There will be two ceremonies taking place in Regina for Remembrance Day, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book ‘War Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.’

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • During conciliation, more than 40 registered nurses reached a deal with their employer on a new three-year collective agreement the union said includes fair wages, hours of work and improved benefits.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    • A Barrie man is at the centre of an alleged $2.2 million stolen used car scheme.

    • Environment Canada issued a weather alert for Barrie, Collingwood and surrounding areas, alerting residents about the wicked winds that are expected to pick up to 80 kilometres per hour in the afternoon hours.

    • Barrie residents gathered on Monday to honour Canada’s veterans and pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for the country.

    • Representatives of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, military representatives, wreath bearers, government officials, and members of the public will attend the Cenotaph at City Hall Square for the outdoor service.

    • Windsor Paralympic champion, Danielle Campo, has been crowned the number one Inspirational Speaker of the Year for 2024 at the Inspirational Speaking Finals.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year’s host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • It was just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down when the Shaft Bottom Boys of Sudbury broke a world record for 'Deepest Concert Underground.' Now, more than four years later, a Timmins band is looking to take the title.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at Â鶹´«Ã½. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½