Every four years, the world stops and watches as the top winter athletes on the globe compete for Olympic gold. During this three week period, Canadians find an unrivalled level of patriotism, and even the most disinterested individual can become an avid fan.
With the Sochi Olympics underway, one group of fans showing additional interest, are Chatham-Kent’s talented hockey players, curlers, and figure skaters who are excited to see their sports played at the highest level.
“I’m really excited to see our top players from across Canada play on the same squad,” said Brendan Johnston, a goaltender with the Chatham Maroons, about Canada’s men’s hockey team. “From a hockey standpoint, it’s going to be unbelievable the amount of talent that will be sitting on the same bench.”
“Curling is fun to watch at the Olympics because of how important it is to our Canadian athletes,” said Wallaceburg’s Matt Mapletoft, who recently finished fifth at Ontario’s curling tankard. “It’s four years of unbelievable commitment mentally, physically, and financially. To cheer on our athletes as they pursue their dream is fun.”
“I love watching the top contenders of each of the four disciplines of figure skating; ladies’, men’s, pairs’, and dance,” explained Olivia Stallaert, an accomplished local skater who competes with the Chatham Skating Club. “I also like to see the level of skating that I strive to one day be a part of.”
Despite dreams of reaching elite levels in their respective sports, these athletes are happy being fans, and are proud to be Canadians, and see Canada win medals at the Olympics.
“Watching the Olympics and hearing Canada’s name called for a medal is one of the proudest possible moments for Canadians,” said Johnston, who backed up the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires on multiple occasions this season. “The Olympics just make every Canadian truly proud of where they’re from.”
“When I watch anyone from Canada, I feel like I know them and they are part of one big family, our Canadian family,” said Stallaert.
“Pride. That’s the one feeling you get being an athlete and watching the Olympics,” added Mapletoft.
For Stallaert and Mapletoft, they’ve already got a taste of international competition. Last summer, Stallaert was selected as a flower collector for the ISU 2013 World Figure Skating Championships in London, where she met many of the world’s top skaters, and experienced the atmosphere of an international competition.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me,” Stallaert said about attending the worlds. “I didn’t want to leave. I was able to attend every event, if not as a flower retriever, than as a spectator. Both were amazing.
“I watched them enter and exit the ice and watched the emotion on their faces. I’m sure it will be the same at the Olympics, with all the different sports. It would be amazing to witness any sport at the Olympics, especially figure skating.”
Mapletoft, who will be avidly following curling and hockey at this year’s Olympics, had the opportunity to represent Canada, and win a bronze medal, at the 2010 World Junior Curling Championships in Switzerland. He knows the challenges facing Canadian athletes, and knows the kind of support Canadian fans give athletes.
“Representing Canada was probably one of the toughest and most rewarding things I have done in my career,” said Mapletoft. “Canadian curlers are expected to win wherever we go, so there is a lot of pressure that comes with it. It still is awesome knowing that you earned the right to represent your country on the world stage and you have so many supporters back home.”
No matter how far they are from the Olympics, the dream is still alive as fans and competitors for these athletes, now more than ever, as they watch the Sochi Games.
“It’s such a honour just to watch,” said Johnston. “I couldn’t imagine how the men and woman feel competing.”
“It would be great to make the Olympics one day, but it’s a big commitment, so we’ll have to see what happens,” said Mapletoft.
“Well, that would be the ultimate experience,” said Stallaert about attending the Olympics. “I would love to. I will just keep dreaming and working hard for now.”
