Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community….
Let’s play a game today……………….
I’ll give you some last names, and you tell me who they are….
Roman, Wesierski, Roper, Proske, Grainger, Mailey, Payne, Wasteneys & Kit……….
The incorrect answer would be Leaf draft picks in the 1990s, although they couldn’t have done any worse.
If you haven’t already blurted out the answer, I’ll give you a clue- there’s 8 names……
How about Maude Charron ?
I’ll bet some of you got it, some of you know the name but can’t remember why you know it and some of you are still drawing blanks…
OK, finally Margaret Mac Neil, Andre De Grasse & Damian Warner.
Now you’re cooking…..These are Canada’s Olympic Gold Medallists at the Summer Games in Tokyo.
A Gold Medal at the Olympic Games is a glittering moment but unfortunately for the largest portion of those listed above, it is just that in the eyes of the nation.
De Grasse & Warner will be remembered long term because they excelled in track, a glamour sport.
If you’re my age, without looking it up, who won Gold Medals for Canada in 1996 in Atlanta besides Donovan Bailey & the Men’s Relay team ?
That’s the destination that awaits the 2021 rowers, Charron and quite likely Mac Neil- how many times did you see or think about Penny Oleksiak between Olympic Games ?
And while that’s the pending reality, there is great joy in victory, great empathy in defeat for our Canadian athletes as we hit the final weekend of the Tokyo Olympics.
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace.