The 2010 Vancouver Olympics – 11 Years Later

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As a resident of the greater Vancouver area, never in my life could I have dreamed for a more exciting time to be Vancouverite and more importantly a Canadian.

During the 2010 winter Olympic games in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., the vibe of the city was unmatched and the moments that were captured will live on in the city and countries history forever.

Looking back on the 2-week period that was the games, we were privileged to see the hard work and determination of our homegrown Candian athletes take center stage in a dominant fashion, winning an Olympic record 14 gold medals and leading the games in total medals, as well.

The success that was found in 2010 was something that nobody has ever been lucky enough to witness at all for their country, let alone on their own soil like it was for Canada in Vancouver.

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To say this was one of the most prime moments of my childhood is an understatement, it was really one of the most prime moments of my entire life. Growing up and having the opportunity to witness the atmosphere and spirit of the games in my hometown was something I did not take for granted.

The games still resonate with me today. The song “I Believe” by Nikki Yanofsky still remains an anthem of our country and the memories that were made during the games. The emotions showed by our athletes, Alexandre Bilodeau the freestyle skier from Quebec capturing Canada’s first of many gold medals, or figure skater Joannie Rochette in her bronze medal tribute to her late mother.

One of my clearest memories of eleven years ago was how it felt to go to school every day during the games. The excitement of young grade school children who were experiencing the success of their heroes and the love for Canada was bonding people tighter than they ever were before, or have been since.

Those days are long over now, and as we reflect on what life has thrown at us over the course of the last calendar year, it is healthy yet so very gutwrenching to glance back at some of the moments that are now considered Canadian heritage.

Canada’s Electric Entrance –

The excitement of the host country entering the opening ceremonies at the Olympics is always so special, but for us, this felt like the sign of something good that was coming.

Watching on TV really didn’t do this moment justice for how electrifying it really was. In the leadup to the game, the coast-to-coast torch relay was the straw that stirred the drink in the leadup to Vancouver 2010, and it played a major factor in why the reception was even crazier than what was to be expected.

People lined the streets in their home cities to have the opportunity to see the torch get passed, for me and many of my peers, this was the best school field trip you could ever ask for.

Oh, what I would do to be back in that spot.

Always Remember the First –

In the previous Canada-hosted games in Calgary and Montreal, Canada fell short of the top of the podium and was unable to capture any gold medals on their home ground.

In Canada, it took downhill freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau just 48 hours to become a legend in Canadian history. Cypress Mountain was the home of this monumental occasion for the country in what will go down as the first of a long line of athletes who made a name for themselves at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics!

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For many people who took in the magic of these games, this was the night where all of the good memories start to come back to you. A cold night but as beautiful as it has ever been on the streets of Vancouver and in Whistler village, where were you when Alex Bilodeau put Canada on top?

Jon Montgomery Celebrating the Canadian Way –

Everyone remembers, and everyone LOVES Jon Montgomery of Russell, Manitoba.

Montgomery captured another gold medal for Canada in the Men’s Skeleton final, and in the celebration of the huge win, he did it in a way only Canadians could, by chugging a full pitcher of Molson given to him by one of the spectators.

Montgomery came out to explain why he felt the need to chug the beer afterwards, saying “The gold medal was the goal, but the golden moment that came next is something that you can’t prepare for. When my “beer angel” wandered out of a Whistler pub and presented me with that frothy pitcher of Canadian culture as I passed by -fresh from victory, my helmet still under my arm, cameras catching the moment – all I could do was be myself. At that moment, people felt a connection.”

O’ Canada.

Virtue and Moir –

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were the feel-good stories of the games, hands down.

The youngest team to ever win an Olympic gold medal in duos ice dance, and they did it with perfection and grace, all while defeating the dominant Russians and their friendly arch-rivals from the United States.

Canadians truly fell in love with this team through their chemistry and unmatched energy throughout every performance.

The gold medal dance is what ended up making the entire population of Canada melt, as to this day it is still considered the greatest team display of ice dance the Olympics has ever witnessed.

The Golden Goal –

It just never gets old. Any Canadian with a memory of the games would be able to tell you where they were and who they were with when Sidney Crosby of Pearl Harbour, Nova Scotia scored the overtime winner to defeat the United States 3-2 in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game.

A tournament of dominance for the Canadian squad that was stacked with NHL stars and Stanley Cup champions, it was the young kid who ended up providing the most electric moment in Canadian Olympic history.

To think that this took place at Rogers Arena still gives me chills, and I can recall myself envisioning the moment taking place whenever I’m lucky enough to get to Rogers for a game, I can only imagine how the players felt.

What a 16 days it was for this city, not only putting ourselves on the map for the success in the games, but also for how the entire event was executed and the atmosphere that was created.

We hope that someday there is another opportunity to witness the Olympic games return to Vancouver and Whistler, as I’m sure we could take it up another notch.

Evan Power, Evolution 107.9

 

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