Vancouver 2010

Article title here over one line or two Vestibulum ante et erat Vestibulum

subtitle Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas dictum, nunc et pulvinar egestas

Month,Day, Year Comment on this story

Author Name Author Name

Canadian Olympians arrived home last night, tired after a 12-hour flight from Beijing but elated over Canada's medal victories.

"We're still on a high," said Karen Cockburn, 27, of Stouffville, who won silver in the trampoline. "It's so great to be home."

Following on her heels was kayaker Adam van Koeverden, 26, from Oakville, who was among Canada's best bets for gold. He took home silver in the K-1 500-metre final after finishing a disappointing eighth in the 1,000 metres.

"It was fantastic, I learned a lot about myself as an athlete and as a person," said van Koeverden. "I can bounce back, I can rise from the ashes after a bad fall and I can get back up and keep going."

Alexandre Despatie, 23, from Laval, Que., who took home silver in diving six months after breaking a bone in his foot, was also elated.

"My win was the peak after this really tough year. ... To be able to win a medal and finally perform and be ready and confident at the right moment was really more than I could expect."

Despatie said he plans to take a month off to travel before beginning his training for the next Olympics in London.

"I'm going to 2012 for sure," he said.

The athletes said what they wanted most was a good night's sleep and some familiar food.

Sixty-eight Olympians were scheduled to return home on two flights last night. Among them was Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Rudge. He said the mood on the plane was celebratory. Athletes had pictures taken with the flight crew and the pilots invited passengers to congratulate them.

The Canadian Olympic team earned a total of 18 medals in Beijing, surpassing its total of 12 in Athens in 2004 and 14 in Sydney in 2000. In all, the 333 athletes collected three gold, nine silver and 6 bronze.

Rudge said he hoped that Canada's showing would mean more money for the Canadian Olympic team from the federal government.

The athletes were greeted by family, friends and even strangers. The crowd greeted them bearing flowers, cupcakes, Tim Hortons doughnuts and cardboard boxes pressed into use as welcome home signs.

The Muir family from Markham drove to greet the Olympians, even though they didn't know any of them personally. "We just thought people did that," said Irene Muir, 49, a medical administrator. "They've worked so hard and we're so proud of them."

Her daughter Georgina, 22, said she wanted to show her support. "I just find them really inspirational."

Janice Pellini, whose son Chris Pellini was in the K-4 1,000 rowing event, said she brought him a doughnut from Tim Hortons and a Gatorade because he'd be dehydrated.

"I didn't get to go (to Beijing) because I have to look after my dog and 15-year-old," she added.

Among the crowd were future Olympic hopefuls.

"I hope we get this kind of ovation in four years," said Melissa Menejhetti, 20, an archer who baked cupcakes for the returning archery team.

Janet Fradshan, from Stephenville, Nfld., left her two adult daughters to find their way through the airport when she learned the Olympians were arriving at another gate.

"I've never seen an Olympian in my life," she said. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec iaculis odio eu odio ullamcorper viverra. Praesent dignissim est sit amet quam. Mauris a dui. Sed libero. Curabitur eu felis. In nec ante. Donec tempor auctor massa. In porta, erat ut congue lobortis, felis est bibendum velit, non consequat purus ipsum sed nisi. Nunc est. Nam imperdiet. Duis gravida tellus et nibh. Duis auctor turpis sit amet eros. Nam tincidunt elit eu leo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec iaculis odio eu odio ullamcorper viverra. Praesent dignissim est sit amet quam. Mauris a dui. Sed libero. Curabitur eu felis. In nec ante. Donec tempor auctor massa. In porta, erat ut congue lobortis, felis est bibendum velit, non consequat purus ipsum sed nisi. Nunc est. Nam imperdiet. Duis gravida tellus et nibh. Duis auctor turpis sit amet eros. Nam tincidunt elit eu leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec iaculis odio eu odio ullamcorper viverra. P

raesent dignissim est sit amet quam. Mauris a dui. Sed libero. Curabitur eu felis. In nec ante. Donec tempor auctor massa. In porta, erat ut congue lobortis, felis est bibendum velit, non consequat purus ipsum sed nisi. Nunc est. Nam imperdiet. Duis gravida tellus et nibh. Duis auctor turpis sit amet eros. Nam tincidunt elit eu leo. Source: Toronto Star

Advertisment