Gold medal in whining

In its first 23 summer Olympic Games, Canada has averaged about 10 medals per appearance, with its best year coming in 1984 (with 42 medals) when there was a communist country boycott of the Los Angeles Games. When looking at its best non-boycott Games, Canada did well in 1996 with 22 medals in Atlanta. Since then, Canada recorded 14 and then 12 medals, in 2000 and 2004, respectively. So this year's medal count (13 as of yesterday afternoon, including two gold ones) isn't below our normal standards at all. But judging from the collective sighs after no medal wins the first week in Beijing, you would think Canadians could win gold in whining, though.

Every Olympics, winter or summer, many Canadians seem upset we don’t produce enough winners. The country's lacklustre performance was highlighted during the 1976 Montreal Games, were Canada earned 11 medals but none of them gold, so the host country's national anthem was never played at a medal ceremony.

While it is frustrating to see countries of equivalent demographics and economic status, such as Australia, easily eclipse our country in medals, it is partly due to attitude — and a failure to subsidize or invest enough funds into sports, from the government and taxpayers to corporations. Basically, Canada gets what it pays for when it comes to medal success at the Olympics. Some will argue the Olympics are not a priority for tax dollars as more pressing needs such as healthcare, the environment and poverty need to be dealt with before we ensure a few more medals in equestrian, trampoline or rowing. If Canada's casual attitude toward competition, to just 'do your best,' isn't good enough for Canadians, they need to make some noise during interval years and make it clear that winning is important and demand more funds be given to athletes to assist them as they train. However, simply pouring more money into it with no clear objectives or standards won't work, either, so that's why Canadians need to make it clear that medals are more important than just competing and set the ball rolling in the right direction.