Don’t you love the stories behind the athletes who ascend an Olympic podium? Especially the Canadians?
Olympic Hopes
Valérie Maltais won Canada’s first medal in Milano. When I saw the replay of her event, I wondered who she was. What was her story? It didn’t take long for me to become an admirer. Her story was like so many other Olympians.
Though she has represented Canada at six Olympic competitions, this was her FIRST individual medal. That medal represented over 16 years of dedicated training and disappointing podium misses. The injuries, setbacks, financing challenges, close finishes, a love of the sport, and a never say quit attitude. But her journey was even longer. 
Thirty years ago, she started speed skating in Saguenay, QC. Her mother noticed short track at the Olympic Winter Games and switched her from figure skating because it was more competitive. As a figure skater she had always wanted to race her coach.
And there she was, over-joyed at winning a bronze, taking a selfie on the podium.
International Heroes
There are 1,000s of athletes who never earn a medal or ascend the podium. Their stories are no less inspirational.
Athletes such as, Vladyslav Heraskevych.
Do you remember the moment at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 when Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych held up a sign reading “No war in Ukraine.” It was just days before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Thirteen Russian and seven Belarusian athletes are competing in the XXV Winter Olympic Games as “neutral” meaning they will not be allowed to participate under their national flags or use national symbols.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the sporting world took a clear stand. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) acted quickly, recommending that international sports federations suspend Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing entirely.
However, unlike athletes, Russian and Belarusian sports officials were never suspended. They influenced international sports organizations and in 2024, athletes from the banned nations were readmitted under a neutral flag.
International Rulings
The president of the Russian Tennis Federation is a member of the IOC. Russia challenged the ban of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), and had the ban overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Are you following the Olympics? What have you enjoyed or noticed so far?
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