Swimmers, gymnasts and sprinters, apart from the major global basketball, tennis and soccer players at the games, also draw the largest ratings, which means other athletes just as successful as Oleksiak, Ledecky, Biles and De Grasse have fewer opportunities.
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The 16-year-old swimmer was one of Canada’s breakout stars at the Rio Games, winning four medals, including one gold.
With the end of the Olympic Summer Games, and the preparation for the Paralympics underway, there are lessons that could be taken from the Summer Games in Rio – lessons for the sporting bodies in Canada and elsewhere, and lessons we humble citizens might be able to learn too. Many of them spoke proudly of the strong showing by Canadian women in Rio de Janeiro, including synchronized diving bronze medal winners Roseline Filion and Meaghan Benfeito. Canada’s flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2015 served more than 41 million customers.
She was an early favourite for flag bearer and delayed her departure from Rio once many began speculating that she deserved to lead Canada’s entrance.
Carlo says she watched Oleksiak race. Canada was most dominant in the pool and track, winning six medals in each.
Speaking on her future, Oleksiak remained grounded. “Before I think people used to see Canadians and be like ‘Oh they’re there, but they ain’t really going to do anything.’ I think now people are recognizing we’re here, and we’re here to compete and we’re here to win medals”. I was impressed by how calm and poised she was when she was interviewed about this singular honour, and it’s astounding to think she’s just heading into Grade 11.
Dressed in a Canada jacket and wearing one of her medals, Oleksiak said she was really excited to be back home.
In a few weeks, Oleksiak will be back at school at Monarch Park.
“As Canadians, we’re proud of all of our athletes”.
She said she wanted to thank everyone who has supported her.
The United States retained top spot despite its quarter-final exit in Rio, followed by Olympic champion Germany and France. They were all involved to an extent, but Lochte was the primary one responsible, and he paid a heavy price, losing some very lucrative endorsements by Speedo and Ralph Lauren, with a couple others also about to pull their big bucks.
A shout-out and messages from Toronto icon and hip-hop sensation Drake, alluding that he will see her at one of his upcoming shows.
In her east-end Toronto neighbourhood of the Beach, residents are planning a celebration for her return, tentatively planned for August 28.
Toronto’s Penny Oleksiak and her fellow Canadian Olympians arrived to a crush of fans, supporters and media this morning at Pearson International Airport.
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“I am thrilled to congratulate Penny Oleksiak on her outstanding success in Rio”. Beaches-East York and all of Ontario and Canada are so proud of her crawling her way to a gold in the 100 meter freestyle, and with her teammates, two bronzes in the 100 and 200 meter relay events.
