Golden Girls Shine at Sochi Olympics 2014

With all due respect to Team Canada’s magnificent gold medal victory yesterday morning in men’s hockey, this Olympics belongs to the ladies.

From the dominance of Jennifer Jones and the power of Kaillie Humphreys and Heather Moyse to the style of the Dufour-Lapointe sisters and the incredible come-from-behind, edge-of-your-seat performance of the women’s hockey team, Sochi has been all about the women.

I was up at seven for the men’s game – acknowledged as the main event at the Games for us Canadians – and I was as thrilled as anyone with the 3-0 win. (I was also thrilled that the bars were open at six in the morning for the game – only in Canada, eh? – though there was no alcohol service in Oshawa, unlike a few other communities. But I digress.)

The game two days before, however, with Wickenheiser, Ouellette, Hefford (each a four-time gold medalist) and company, was the game of the Olympics. That was one for the ages.

In honour of the occasion, I even put my Brutal IPA I had found the day before on ice, as it didn’t seem right to quaff American beer (Rogue Ales, Newport, Oregon) until victory was assured. Fortunately I had some Smashbomb Atomic IPA (Flying Monkeys, Barrie, ON) on hand, so all was good. I’d say Don Cherry would have been proud, except he drinks Bud. But I digress again.

I didn’t think I’d get to the Brutal when we were down two with less than four minutes to go, but the ladies snatched victory from the very jaws of defeat to score twice to tie it in spectacular fashion, before winning it in overtime.

And then the social media universe just exploded.

It was one of the most exciting hockey games I have ever watched, period.

I should point out that the tying goal (55 second left) and the OT winner were both scored by Marie-Phillip Poulin, who also happened to score both goals in Canada’s 2-0 win over the Americans in the gold medal game in Vancouver. She is money, to say the least, and she is also, say most observers, the best female hockey player in the world.

I should also note that Canada’s comeback was almost made moot when an empty net clearing attempt by Kelli Stack of Team USA hit the post, sparking this hilarious internet meme: “Never before has two inches made 22 women this happy.”

Honestly, when it was 2-0 USA late, I was just hoping for a goal to make it interesting. But our women hockey players, like all our women athletes in Sochi, gave us a slap upside the head to remind us that it ain’t over ‘till the fit lady sings.

And she was singin’ a golden song all Olympics.

The Dufour-Lapointe sisters – all three of them – kicked off the run for Canada, with Justine taking gold and older sister Chloe earning silver in moguls. Maxime also made the final, finishing 12^th.

The lovely Dufour-Lapointe sisters

Dara Howell was next up for the ladies and she invoked the spirit of the late Sarah Burke to take the gold in Women’s Slopestyle, with Kim Lamarre earning bronze.

Next to top the podium was the dynamic duo of Kaillie Humphreys and the incomparable Heather Moyse, who came from behind to win gold for the second Olympics in a row. (Moyse, who sets start records nearly every competition she enters, may be the best all-round athlete the world has ever seen. Hyperbole? Maybe, but check her Wikipedia entry. I ain’t kidding.)

Then we witnessed the shot-making of Jones and her Manitoba rink, which rolled through the competition unbeaten – unprecedented - before crushing Great Britain in the final.

We also enjoyed a 1-2 Canadian finish in Ski Cross, with Marielle Thompson and veteran Kelsey Serwa providing the excitement.

That brings us to the Women’s hockey game, and Moyse and Humphreys – later chosen as Canada’s flag-bearers for the closing ceremonies – offered up some inspiration prior to the game in a note addressed to the team:

“There are ups and downs in every race/game but we are proof that if you keep believing in the possibilities, results can be golden! Own it! The ice is yours! Fight to the bitter end!”

Smiles, Heather and Kaillie

And after taking the bobsleigh queen’s advice to heart, the hockey girls penned their own note to the male counterparts, prior to the semi-final game between Canada and the USA, won by the red-and-white 1-0:

“Guys: Tonight is yours. Own the moment. We are proof that every minute matters. The podium is reserved for the brave. Earn every inch, dictate the pace. Go get ‘em!”

From The Girls J

That’s an IPA moment, if ever I heard one.

To be fair, the men offered up some great excitement in Sochi as well. Charles Hamelin struck gold in the 1,500 in speedskating and the great Alex Bilodeau repeated as gold medalist in men’s moguls, with teammate Mikael Kingsbury following right behind him in second. And we can’t forget Brad Jacobs’ rink from Sault Ste. Marie in curling, nor will we forget our aforementioned men’s hockey gold.

But our women ruled here in Russia.

Thanks girls. For all the golden moments.

Sarah Burke

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Sarah Burke, a legend as well as a pioneer in freestyle skiing, was on the hearts and minds of Canada’s entire freestyle team in Sochi.

Burke, a multiple X Games champion who died in a training accident two years ago, had lobbied successfully to get slopestyle and halfpipe included in the Sochi Olympics. Howell, Lamarre, Serwa, Roz Groenewoud (who finished seventh in the ladies’ halfpipe event) and Mike Riddle (who earned a silver medal in the men’s event) all spoke emotionally about the impact Burke had on their lives and on the competition itself.

After the half pipe events ended Burke’s ashes were spread on the course.

The next night, Lamarre and her teammates went out to celebrate. “Sarah's drink of choice was vodka and we’re in Russia,” she said, smiling. “We had a shot for her.”