"Through the first 10 days of the Olympics, Canada had more memes than medals. More gaffes than golds. More oh no than O Canada. Canada didn't win their first gold medal of the Games until the ninth day of full competition. Meanwhile, the narrative centered on the Great Curling Kerfuffle of 2026 and its accompanying viral online content. But the Canadian comeback looks like it is already well under way."
"At the 1988 Calgary Games, the host nation failed to win a single event, finishing with two silver medals and three bronze. (In Canada's defense, those Games had only 46 events, compared to 116 today.) But those Games had glimpses of hope in events labeled demonstration sports. One such sport was curling, and the host nation took unofficial gold and bronze medals. The two other demonstration sports freestyle skiing and short-track speedskating also brought Canadian success."
"They accelerated their progress even further with the Own the Podium campaign in 2005, and the investment paid off when Canada hosted again in 2010, they earned a then-record 14 gold medals and 26 total. Through Tuesday, Canada has three golds and 12 total medals. If events were evenly spread out, they'd be on pace for some anemic tallies another four-gold performance, like at Beijing 2022, and 16 to 17 total."
Canada had a slow start at these Winter Games, earning its first gold only on the ninth day of full competition and accumulating three golds and 12 total medals through Tuesday. The 1988 Calgary Games saw Canada win no events but show promise in demonstration sports such as curling, freestyle skiing and short-track speed skating, which later became national strengths. The Own the Podium investment beginning in 2005 accelerated medal growth, peaking with 14 golds and 26 total in 2010. Event scheduling favored Alpine, Nordic and biathlon early, limiting immediate Canadian gold prospects, while numerous medals remain available in Canada’s stronger disciplines.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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