Fox: An eternal national treasure
Slovenian cross-country skier Petra Majdic – a pre-Olympic favorite – and figure skater Joannie Rochette of Canada will share the Terry Fox award “which honors athletes who embody Fox’s determination.”
Majdic fell off course during the individual classical sprint training run leading to four broken ribs and a collapse lung. She was determined to compete and won bronze. During the medal ceremony the pain was such that she could barely climb the podium needing help to do it.
Rochette faced a personal tragedy when her mother, Therese, who had just flown in to watch her daughter compete, died suddenly of a heart attack. Close to her mother, Rochette decided she had to compete in for her memory. Canada thanks her as she skated to an incredible third place finish.
It was quite the emotional spectacle.
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Unaware organizers in Vancouver were presenting the Fox award, I thought to myself they should have some sort of “honorary” medals for some athletes. The idea popped into my head while watching slalom skier Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong - aka The Snow Leopard – of Ghana, fulfill his Olympic dream. Ghana? Ski? Snow? A skier from Ghana nicknamed for a cat indigenous to Asia? Man, I’ve seen it all.
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Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Chilean Olympic team and their nation as they will skip the closing ceremonies to stand by their countrymen following a devastating earthquake in Chile.
Vancouver has seen its share of trials, tribulations and tragedies, eh?
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