Going for Gold

June 24, 2021 

Unless something goes very sideways, the 2020 Olympics, re-scheduled now to next month in Tokyo, will kick off in 29 days.  Some of our sailors are already there, the rest are on their way.

Over the past 12 weeks we have profiled our team, a spectacular bunch to say the least. Their sailing achievements are many but their ability to stay dedicated and focused through the intervening Olympic question marks outstrips even those on-the-water accomplishments.

So now what?  The Games are clearly going ahead despite detractors.  The presence (or lack) of a spectator crowd is neither here nor there for sailing so nonissue there.  The camaraderie and good times normally associated with Olympics are scrapped.  Immediately after all the work, these athletes will finish their races, be awarded their medal along with one of those well-publicized Olympic condoms, and sent back to Canada.  There, depending on the regulations in place at that point, they will be further rewarded with two weeks of quarantine. Thanks very much.

The other sub optimal aspect of the sailing competition for Canada is not unique to this year; the sailors are largely lost in the shuffle at the best of times. Any high finishing hurdler or gymnast can bump them off the news even as they medal. But this year, you can bet the news will get hijacked by weightlifters who drop out because of Covid and footage of pole-vaulters eating dinner alone in a room.

Here at CYOB, we will attempt to give the sailing team as much ink as we can. These young competitors have dedicated a lot of time and effort in the training and sailing, yes, but also in the fundraising, logistics, vaccination sweepstakes and wrack of nerves. They have been brave, but it would be understandable if they were disappointed in the on-again-off-again schedule, the huge hurdles to training because travel was curtailed and a pandemic fears on top.  The winners will be proud but so should they all be.  And we will make that point in a big way.

John Morris
Online Editor
Canadian Yachting Magazine
CYonboard@kerrwil.com

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