Christine for Canada: Visa Canada Blog
With hockey obviously in its offseason (and as we eagerly wait to see if there will be a season at all), the 2012 Summer Games in London, England are nearing their peak. With so much going on in these final few days of the Olympics, Visa has offered me some prizing that I can give to you guys! I’ll explain how at the end of the blog. For now, I want to give my opinion on something that is quickly becoming the biggest topic of discussion for Canada at these games: Who is going to be Canada’s flag-bearer?
The last Olympian to carry the flag for Canada at the closing ceremony of an Olympics was figure skater Joannie Rochette, and rightfully so. While she didn’t win gold, Rochette’s bronze medal was a massive victory in itself. While still mourning the sudden death of her mother, Therese, Joannie performed her routines magnificently. Rochette’s athletic accomplishments were impressive, but what truly made her the right choice as Canada’s flag-bearer was that she captured Canada’s heart.
Outside of the men’s ice hockey team, not many athletes were recognized as household names. As somebody who spent the entire 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, I can honestly say that almost everyone I spoke to knew of Rochette’s story. Her bravery and determination was one of the greatest stories of those Olympics, and she was absolutely the perfect pick to be Canada’s flag-bearer.
Now in 2012, who is the one Canadian athlete everyone talks about? Easy: Christine Sinclair.
Leading all women’s soccer players with six goals in the tournament, including all three goals in a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the States, there were times where Sinclair looked like a one-woman show. Her efforts, and the entire team’s efforts, culminated today with a 1-0 Canadian victory in the Bronze medal game against France. If you needed any indication for how big of a deal this is for Canadian soccer, it’s Canada’s first medal in a traditional summer sport of any kind since Canada picked up silver in basketball in Berlin in 1936. While gold is always better than silver or bronze, the significance of this accomplishment can’t be denied.
Some might argue that after Sinclair criticized the officiating in Canada’s game with the USA, she should not be the one representing Canada. That might be a bit hypocritical, seeing as the vast majority of Canadians who saw that game, along with many soccer fans from other countries, echoed Sinclair’s frustration. Tempers flair. She plays the game with fire, and sometimes that carries over to the microphone.
Comments aside, if Christine Sinclair wasn’t a big name in Canadian sports before these Olympics, she certainly is now. No, she isn’t Michael Phelps. No, she isn’t Usian Bolt. What she is however, is a woman who earned the attention and respect of Canadians like no other Canadian athlete at these game. She’s the right choice.
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PRIZES! Right. Almost forgot.
Leave a comment on this blog, and not just some comment that says “HI STEVE!” Make a legitimate comment on this blog. I will take all of those comments and put them into a randomizer. The person the randomizer picks will win a $50 pre-paid VISA card. Available to Canadian residents only. Want it? Leave a comment. If you don’t see your comment right away, don’t panic. They all need to be approved before posting.
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I absolutely agree with you, Steve. Christine Sinclair has been the face of women’s soccer in Canada for years and is regarded as one of the best players in the world. She’s done so much for the game. And I’m so glad people are finally starting to take notice of her and her wonderful accomplishments.
Furthermore, the comments Sinclair made in the heat of the moment at the end of a very emotional semifinal game against Canada’s soccer nemesis, is hardly a reason to rule her out as Canada’s flag bearer.
I want to grow up to be Christine Sinclair. Sadly, as my son has pointed out, I’m already significantly older and far less talented than she. Still, would absolutely love to see her as flag bearer.
People talk about how their performance in these Olympics put Women’s soccer on the map in Canada, but it’s raised the profile of soccer in general. Boys who usually talk about next season’s hockey staring were all talking about the CAN v US match at Boychild’s soccer game this week. The future of the sport in this country is better served if we can keep this interest going.
Sinclair had a career-defining performance at London 2012 and established herself as a living legend. In fact, she’s like the Gretzky of soccer. Or maybe Gretzky in the Sinclair of hockey?
Either way, she should definitely have the honour of carrying the flag for Canada.
PS. Rosie MacLennan, as the country’s lone gold medalist, might also be a good choice for flag-bearer.
Though I understand the mentality behind putting other names forward, for personal best results and/or the only gold medal (thus far); however, I personally don’t feel there is any other choice for flag bearer than Christine Sinclair. It isn’t a question of the most goals in a single Olympic tournament, or her being the best player in the game currently; but what she, in her role as Captain of the Canadian Women’s Soccer Team, symbolizes. The Canadian Women’s Soccer team had the most watched event for TSN in these Olympics, so more Canadians were invested in this team’s journey than any other part of these games. The team showed resilience, determination and exemplified the Canadian Olympic team motto of “Give your everything”. As Captain, Christine Sinclair represents that entire team, and could do the same for the entire Canadian Olympic team. It isn’t about individual glory; our flag bearer should be a leader for the entire group. Our flag bearer should be someone who gives the entire Canadian Olympic team strength, and hope for the future of the games, as well as our place in them. It should be Christine Sinclair.
During the USA/Canada semi-final match, my dad (little old Italian man, usually pretty quiet) called me, nearly screamed “THIS IS BETTER THAN THE WORLD CUP!” then added “Okay, ciao!” And hung up. We were both too excited, and he wanted to get back to watching the game immediately.
Sad the game ended the way it did, but I haven’t spoken to anyone who could place an ounce of blame on the Canadian ladies. They played their hearts out, and they did us proud. Christine Sinclair will now undoubtedly become a household name in Canada, and I foresee an influx of soccer registrations in the years to come.
If not Sinclair as the flag bearer, let Tancredi do it! She’ll just blast through the other countries with a huge body check (you know the one I’m talking about
ha!)
HI STEVE!
BYE STEVE!
Kidding, but I agree 100% with you. Sure, Sinclair didn’t get gold, but seeing Canada’s more of a hockey nation rather than a soccer nation, bronze is a pretty good accomplishment. Sinclair’s a strong leader and she poured her heart out into every game which is just a red flag to a “Dude, she’s a crazy good leader with her heart in the right place,” kind of statement. To choose someone other than Sinclair to bear that flag would be ridiculous.
I completely agree with Christine Sinclair being the flag bearer. I am however very disappointed with all the controversy that has developed in this Olympic year. I wonder if they might have different rules made up for the next summer Olympics? Guess time will tell.
As a die-hard hockey fan, I cringe at all the diving in soccer, but even I watched the Canada-USA game. Sinclair played hard and passionately and I totally agree that she deserves to be Canada’s flag bearer. A hat trick in soccer? Extremely rare considering a lot of games end in a draw (yawn). She has earned my utmost respect in the past few months with the way she and the rest of her team has put women’s soccer on the map in this country.
Christine Sinclair is the obvious and most popular choice to be the flag bearer for Canada. She inspired a nation with the fire in her eyes, and so what if she made comments like that after the game? I can only imagine what some of the American players would have said if it was the other way around.
My dark horse, no pun intended, to carry the flag would be Tiffany Foster. The poor girl was disqualified from the equestrian team competition based on a technicality that the horse was “injured”. If you saw the press conference after she was DQ’d, she was absolutely distraught. She was a complete mess. She felt like she let her team down, when really it was not the least bit her fault.
Just imagine how much it would lift her spirits to be the flag bearer of the country, when she was not allowed to participate in something she was waiting for since she probably was a little girl.
Probably won’t happen, but would be a true feel good story to end the games, considering the Olympics have been full of them for Canada.
Sinclair as flag bearer is a must! I’d even consider her for the Lou Marsh award! If Sinclair isn’t flag bearer it should be either Tanya Verbeek or Rosannagh Maclennan. Verbeek because of her great career as a Canadian Olympian and Maclennan for bring our country our only gold (for now).
Christine Sinclair is an obvious leader on the pitch. Any Canadian would be very happy with her being the flag bearer. However, I’m not 100% sure she would take the oppertunity right away. I wonder a bit if she would take the modesty angle and say her teammates deserve the oppertunity as much as her so maybe she’d decline so she wouldn’t seem superior to her team in her mind.
Hey Steve ! I would love to see Sinclair as the flag bearer ! She has earned a lot of respect especially with her hat trick against our southern neighbors. From my point of view, no other Canadian athlete has yet to attract so much emotion, passion and attention from the Canadian and Olympic audience in these London games. I would vote for Sinclair as flag bearer without any hesitation! Eh oh Canada go!!!!
I think that she definitely deserves the honour of being Canada’s flag bearer. The soccer team has no doubt captured the hearts of all Canadians in this tournament, led by Christine. On the other hand, there are some other names that should be in the discussion. Emilie Heymans comes to mind, winning her fourth medal in four consecutive Olympics, as well as Brian Price. I guess you also have to take into account the athletes that may be retiring after this year like Tanya Verbeek. Perhaps Sinclair would be a good candidate for Rio? Either way, no matter who raises the red and white on Sunday, I will be behind that athlete 100%.
All the awards to Christine Sinclair. She definitely deserves to be flag bearer. I hadn’t sat through a single soccer game ever before these Olympics and I’m so glad I tuned in because Canada played some incredible matches.
I was hoping Raonic would have done better. Good for him for dragging out his 3rd set loss to be the longest set in Olympic history. Hope he wins the Roger’s Cup this go around.
I’m not sure what it is that ref’s have against Canada. I remember in the winter Olympics the one year that the Americans had a huge amount of power plays vs our Canadian women’s team. This game felt eerily similar.
I wouldn’t be upset if Damian Warner was chosen as the flag-bearer, either. Unbelievable performance!
RIght, right after the semi ended, I posted something about how I was gonna start a petition for Sinc as flag-bearer, and a few tweets to Soccer Canada later, just kind of left it. All of a sudden the idea took off, and it made me so happy. SINC FOR FLAG BEARER !
Seeing as we choose our own flag bearer, I can’t see Sinclair’s comments made after the game being any sort of detractor. We all felt the same way and I’m sure our Olympic committee understands. While Sinclair’s far-and-away the pick for flag-bearer, I think Matheson deserves a nod of respect for scoring the Summer Games equivalent of Crosby’s Golden Goal! Matheson’s Bronzed Goal?
It makes total sense to have Christine Sinclair as the flag bearer for the Closing Ceremonies. For people to criticize her for having a reaction after the loss to the US is completely asinine. I don’t recall outrage when Gretzky had his press conference in Salt Lake (however there may have been, I was only 13 so forgive me), therefore I don’t see how this is any different? #SinclairForFlagBearer, the country wants it, her teammates want it, it is a win/win as far as I am concerned.
I agree, Sinclair definitely should be Canada’s flag bearer, she showed heart and determination in the game against USA. She’s a strong leader without a doubt.
I think that Christine is the most obvious choice for it, not because she was a big reason for the team and their success in the tournament, plus her individual performance, but she showed the heart of an olympian and did the country proud. It isn’t always what medal you get, but how you got there. Canada wants her to be the flagbearer, and she should be!
Definitely the right choice. This year’s finish will probably put women’s soccer on the map in Canada and she is almost singlehandedly the reason. Hands down should be the flag bearer.
HI STEVE!
Love the blogs, keep up the good work. If you don’t pick Sinclair as the flag bearer you’re out of your mind. Unless the entire team is given flags.
Christine Sinclair is a legend. One of the greatest soccer players of all time. Not just in these Olympics. 2nd most goals in the history of the game. To put it in a hockey context, she’s the Wayne Gretzky of Canadian women’s soccer.
Although Christine Sinclair is a great choice, what about Damien Warner who just finished fifth in the decathlon, only 5 points behind 4th place? Set 6 personal bests, and was in medal contention almost the whole competition! Ranked 17th in the world, his determination and heart saw him move way up the leader boards compared to where he “should” have been.
Or what about Mark Oldershaw? Not because of his individual achievement – even though a bronze in the C-1 was impressive – being the third generation of Oldershaws to compete in the Olympics and the first to win a medal is a heart-warming story as well.
In the end, I still believe Sinclair is the right choice, but those are two other names that I certainly wouldn’t be against.
Dangle talking about soccer? weird! but totally agree…Sinclair has definitely gained the respect of many Canadians as she led Canada all through the tournament and put the team on her back against the Americans. In my opinion there is no better choice for flag bearer.