Pan-American Games

To my family, friends, fans and anyone else that randomly finds this link on Google -

Writing a blog is much harder than I had originally thought it might be.

I have written, rewritten and rewritten again the opening line for this first blog.  No "one liner" can capture all of the ideas running through my head.  I had been thinking about documenting my experiences and travels with the Canadian National Team for some time now; but hey, no time like the present, right?  Basically, I want some sort of chronicle that, when I'm fifty years old with a family of my own, I can look back to.  Something I can read to my kids in hopes of inspiring them to follow their own dreams.  Something that can bring me back to the amazing experiences I have had and will have throughout the coming years.  

It is a beautiful, clear night here in Guadalajara, Mexico.  I'm sitting outside of our "Athlete's Lounge" grabbing the only strong signal of Internet on this half of the Village.  This experience thus far has been unreal, it is hard to believe that it is only day three.  Over 7,000 athletes from 42 delegations have come to represent their countries and compete at the very highest level.  For someone like me, who wasn't able to experience Beijing in 2008 and won’t see another Olympic games until 2020, this is it…this is my Olympic Games.    

I am surrounded by the greatest athletes from North, Central and South America.  The future Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and Misty May-s of the world.  People work their whole lives to get to where I am today, and it is an amazing feeling. 

Last night was Opening Ceremonies.  I really should write an entire blog about it because it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.  Walking alongside the other Canadian athletes, coaches, trainers and support staff through a tunnel leading out onto the field singing "Oh Canada".  Hearing “Canada” announced over the loud speaker, the crowd of over 70,000 people going wild as we walked out into the stadium.  Chills ran up and down my spine so many times that night it was unreal.  Unreal is the only word that can truly sum up that experience. 

I could go on forever, but there is one part I must include.  Each country was announced one by one, walking around in a counter clockwise circle about a stage suspended thirty feet in the air.  Once we had been seated, as each country was announced, we cheered, clapped and waved at our fellow competitors.  When the country of Haiti was announced, all of the Canadian athletes stood, giving them a standing ovation as they passed.  No other delegation did.  It still gives me the chills and causes me to tear-up reminiscing on that moment.  I have never been so proud to be a Canadian.   To see so many athletes competing was inspiring and they deserved nothing less than a standing ovation.  With nothing left back home, the athletes proudly wear their nation's colors and compete as though everything was fine. 

I could go on forever about how amazing an experience this has been, but it is getting late and we have practice early in the morning. 

I don’t really know how to end a blog…so I guess that I’ll say stay tuned for more!

Love,

Victoria