CANADA ROCKS! My first Olympic event was tonight and I got to see Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir win an Olympic Gold Medal in Ice Dancing for Canada. It was stunning, amazing, nerve wracking, and a moment I will never forget! It was so special to see this. Never in a million years did I think I would be seeing Canada win a Gold Medal when I bought the tickets for this event 9 months ago. If I'm as proud as I am of this couple, I can only imagine how their coaches, families and friends must feel. What an honour to witness this tonight. Congratulations to all involved in this Gold Medal.
We tried to arrive as early as possible since we did not know how long it would take to get to the venue and through security. My Mom and I chatted with some nice ladies from Los Angeles, CA while we waited in line. One woman inquired about the Olympic pins I was wearing so I pulled out Canada Loot Bags to give to them. They loved them! One even went so far as to request a bag with a pin of Ontario's provincial flower. I have to say it is pretty and would appeal to a lot of people. They were rooting for an all North American podium that night. I would have liked that too.
Not only was this my first Olympic event, it was also my first Figure Skating event. The skaters are put into groups and each group comes out onto the ice for a 5 minute warm up before their group begins competing. When Scott and Tessa took the ice it was pandemonium! They were real cool cats and focused on their warm up. Even from way up high where I was sitting they looked relaxed and ready to go. Scott and Tessa were in the last group of the night, 5 couples total in their group, and our Canadians skated third. I was so nervous! My heart started beating faster and I felt like it was hard to breathe. The American couple who skated before them did very well and Scott and Tessa had their work cut out for them. No need to worry though as they threw down the skate of a lifetime and easily took first place. After two more pairs, it was final the Canadian team of Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue had the gold. The whole arena went completely nuts. You know its loud when the crowd is drowning out the voice of the announcer, I couldn't even hear them say that Canada had won gold.
This was one event where they do the medal presentation at the venue so not only did we see them do a gold medal performance, we were able to watch them get their medals. I can't even begin to describe what it was like. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be seeing a gold medal presentation to Canada at my first Olympic event. Scott was totally pumped up, shaking his arms in the air and letting out some hoots and hollers. The smiles on their faces were a mile wide. We sang O Canada as loud as we could, the skaters posed for photos and then the pairs did a lap around the ice. When Scott and Tessa were leaving the ice area, Scott jumped up into the stands where his family was. They caught him and held onto him for the best hug I've ever seen. We saw the family afterwards when we were leaving the venue and they were just ecstatic, as they should be. Gold medals or any medals at all are usually the culmination of years and years of hard work and support. It was so great to see the family enjoying this moment. I would think there is something extra special about since it all happened on home territory. What a way to start the week!
The second Canadian Ice Dance team Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier finished in 14th place for their first Olympic competition.
To view the photos for today you can click here.
I love this photo! That is Canada in top spot!
Our amazing Canadians on top of the podium. What a great night for all of us!
Happy my Mom was there to see this with me.
Canada Medal Results
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir - GOLD in Ice Dancing *I'm so happy about this :)
I was at the Afghan Horsemen restaurant when they won. The owner, an older Afghani-Canadian man, was brought to tears by this incredible achievement in his adopted country. So were about half a dozen Team 2010 volunteers. It was a very special night indeed!
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