Monday 12 August 2024

Olympics: Canada's top 10

The Olympics have been entertaining. You can find the names of the medalists everywhere. We sent 317 people.

We were trying to watch the closing ceremonies, and a storm rolled in. I did a panoramic photo with the iPhone.


Our two flag bearers!
We had to resort to CBC's Gem, and online portal.

I started looked at Canadians who just missed a medal. My best source was BBC. The drop-down menu is terrific. Back in the old days, only the top two got medals. When you consider how many people they beat to get to the Olympics, it is astounding. Reactions to 4th place, and top 10 are quite different, athlete to athlete. Often the interviewer consoles them. It occurred to me that while the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers get glory, the top 10 finishers deserve recognition. 

Canadian Olympian Results: 4th place

  • 🏊Mary-Sophie Harvey – women’s 200m freestyle;
  • 🏊 Josh Niendo – 50 m swim ;
  • Yunjia Zhang, Lee Kiefer – women's team foil event ;
  • 🏊 Summer McIntosh, Mary-Sophie Harvey, Ella Jansen, Julie Brousseau – women's 4 x 200m freestyle;
  • 🏊 Caeli McKay, Kate Miller – women's synchro 10m platform diving; 
  • men’s judo 100-kg bronze-medal matches;
  • 🏊 Kylie Masse finishes 4th in women's 100m backstroke;
  •  🏃Moh Ahmed – 10,000m marathon;
  • 🏊 Women's 4 x 100m medley;
  • Michelle & Katherine Plouffe, Paige Crozon, Kacie Boschwome – 3 x 3 basketball;
  • Women's team – Artistic gymnastics;
  • 🎽🎠Elsabeth (AKA Ellie, Elsie) Black – Women's Vault;
  • 🏌Corey Connors – golf;
  • 🎾Felix Auger-Aliassime – tennis;
  • Audrey Lamothe & Jacqueline Simoneau  – Artistic swimming duet;
Then, what about the top 10 finishers?

Top 6 - 10th places

  • Team artistic gymnastics 5th; 
  • 🚲 Molly Simpson – women 5th, BMX racing;
  • Jill Moffatt and Jenny Casson, lightweight double scull, 5th;
  • 🏊 men's medley – 4 x 100 5th;
  •  🏃Evan Dunfey – 20k racewalk 5th;
  • Hannah Taylor – wrestling 57 kg 5th;
  • Elsie Black – individual all-around gymnastics 6th; 
  • Shallon Olsen – Women's Vault 6th;
  • Women's 4 x 400m relay run team 6th;
  • 🏊 Team Artistic Swimming 6th;
  • Michelle Russell – women's kayak single 500m: 6th; 
  • 🏃Women's 4 x 100m relay 7th (Just the fourth appearance in the final for Canada in 48 years.);
  • Ryan Weins – 10m platform diving 7th;
  • Sarah Douglas – sailing, women's dinghy 8th;
  • Men's artistic gymnastics – 8th;
  • Tyler Mislawchuk, triathalon 9th;
  • Rowan Hamilton – hammer throw 9th;
  • Sophie Jenson – women's canoe single 200m: 9th;
  • Maggie Coles-Lyster – Women's Omnium 9th;
  • Nathan Zsomber-Murray – 10m platform diving, 10th;

🏊 I used to swim on my high school swim team. I was on the 'B' team! I remember our two high school swim team stars, on the A team. One was a tall, slim poppy 5'8", Caroline, whose shoulder's were twice the width of mine. And another swim team mate who was more my height, but powerful, who missed qualifying for the Olympics at trials by 1/100th of a second. That said, at swim meets they would cheer me on in lane 8 as I struggled to do a good job. I did 200m backstroke.

I loved swimming. I even participated in the synchronized swim club in high school. I sure didn't wear anything like this! The artistic gymnastics are the same, high legged outfits. Track and field, as well. It is an interesting culture. 

The new rules say that they are allowing the men to participate in Artistic swimming. None have made that choice, so far! They look so anorexic.

Then there is the beach volleyball. I just feel uncomfortable watching them. That sand, you know, it gets everywhere. 


We begin a new week. Garbage is out. It is a lovely temperature for sleeping, with the days warming up. I go to bed and wake up after 4 hours, coughing. Not so bad. 

I did a bit of gardening on Sunday. No good deed goes unpunished. A wasp stabbed me. Dang, that hurts! I put on bug bite goop. Then ice, as my hand began to swell. I took an antihistamine, but its expiry date was 2020. My hand kept on swelling.  From 1 o'clock to 3 o'clock...


It's like Botox!

My right hand for comparison!

It is still swollen this morning. We'll see how it goes. Do you have any responses to bug bites? This is rather ridiculous. At least it wasn't a tick!


18 comments:

Crafty Green Poet said...

I haven't been watching the Olympics at all!

Your poor hand, I hope the swelling goes down soon. I had a very bad reaction to a flower bug bite once, which was horrible and needed antibiotics. I've never been stung by a wasp.

eileeninmd said...

Oh my, your hand looks bad! I have had a bad bee sting.
Take care, have a wonderful week!

Barbara Rogers said...

Yikes, your poor hand. Nope, I think you've done everything I would. Maybe keep taking benedryl. Your system is fighting those histomines, anti-s or something. I meant to mention, I loved Canada's shirts for the Olympics. Very classy.

MELODY JACOB said...

It’s great to hear you’re enjoying the Olympics! The panoramic photo with the stormy backdrop sounds like a unique way to capture the moment. It’s true—those who finish just outside the medal positions have put in incredible effort and deserve recognition too.

I’ve just posted a new blog entry and would love for you to check it out when you have a moment. Eager to hear your thoughts!

Jim and Barb's Adventures said...

I am guessing with some Benadryl and ice it will go down in time. But man, that is crazy!

Jeanie said...

Well done, Canada. Not so well done, Mr. Wasp -- that wasn't kind at all. Looks painful, Jenn. You've had enough -- you don't need this.

Anvilcloud said...

I haven't seen the closing ceremonies, but I think the two weeks went pretty well for the most part.

tz_garden said...

Oh my gosh! That's incredibly swollen, I hope you get some new antihistamines to have around. I'm with you on the outfits, I could NEVER!

Divers and Sundry said...

I've enjoyed the Olympics. So much talent. France put on quite the show. LA has its work cut out for it to even come close.

I've never had a reaction like that to a bite or sting. Yikes!

RedPat said...

I might be tempted to soak that hand in a bowl of ice water but I'm not sure. It looks quite painful.
I miss watching the Olympics already.

Nancy J said...

Jenn that is massive swelling, maybe you need to have an "Epipen" or similar on hand, you would not want a sting near your neck or face. The Olympics, anyone who competes is brave, and the runners up certainly deserve mention too. You have done some serious research. Take care.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Ouch... Hope the swelling reduces quickly. The O's were good and I can't believe it's all done and dusted already. YAM xx

DUTA said...

The best response to bites is to avoid the biting creatures.
Anyway, ice is the best! You need patience to keep the hand in ice for as long as it is needed.

Elephant's Child said...

All the athletes deserve applause. Bug bites blow me up too. And they can itch for weeks.

Red said...

That's scary to see your hand swollen like that. I wonder if it has anything to do with covid.

DrumMajor said...

Remove ring right after a sting. Get currrent benadryl. If one doesn't help much, take a second one and you'll be sleepy. Note the times you took them. If throat feels tight or swelling, get to the ER FAST. Wear DDT infused bug spray, Keep hand elevated on pillows when sitting or in bed, ice or very cold washclothes. Yep, check with the doc, but having an epipen on hand might be a good idea. Linda in Kansas

Far Side of Fifty said...

Scary swelling, I always use lots of ice...the stings from a wasp hurt so bad. Take benadryl as needed. Yes I always have a reaction to bee stings, I have an epi pen on hand.

Val Ewing said...

Ouch. Just catching up. When I get stung, I have painful swelling and feel like crap for 24 hrs. I have 3 members of the family that have anaphylactic reactions to bee stings, so I try to be mindful!