Kara, Walter and Allanna

Heather Moyse has launched herself into the history books in Prince Edward Island and Canada as one of a handful of Canadians that have won a Gold medal at an Olympic Games in Canada. Standing in the stands at the finish line with Heather’s family and supporters I was overcome with emotion. She and her partner Kaillie Humphries were unbelievably good in every single heat. They set a blistering pace from the start of the event and never looked back. It takes a talented athlete, dedicated training and a very strong will to keep your focus under pressure. This pressure to perform, can be incredible at the Olympic Games and more than one world class athlete has bent under the pressure in the last two weeks. Heather’s golden moment was all the more special for me, knowing exactly what those athletes were up against. Years of training culminate in a pivotal few seconds. Although I had not spoken to Heather leading up to the Games, I know she has been hard at work, following a specific training plan so as to be perfectly prepared and to know that one way or the other, she did her very best. Clearly the preparation she and Kaillie followed was exactly what was required. The tension in the stands was nearly unbearable as we witnessed the ups and down of the other competitors: the scary crash by one of the top German teams and the excellent run by Canada’s sled number two piloted by Helen Upperton, Heather’s former partner from Torino, and then waiting for Heather and Kaillie’s final run. We knew at that point that Canada had won Gold, the question was only which sled it would be. When Heather and Kaillie crossed that finish line the roar of the crowd was deafening, the cheers and hugs and enormous smiles on the faces of Cyril and Sharon, Heather’s parents, not to mention the rest of her family and thousands of fans, were beautiful. The athletes were so pumped, so proud, so excited, that words can hardly do it justice. The whole evening was a series of celebrations beginning when Heather and Kaillie crossed the finish line, jumped out of the sled and pulled off their helmets and hugged each other.

Team Canada Celebrates

The celebrations continued during the flower ceremony, media interviews, doping control, back to Whistler village for the CTV media show and champagne toast amidst a frenzy of cheering fans and finally to Canada Olympic House where Heather, Kaillie, Helen and Shelley-Ann were met by the Whistler Olympic family and friends for a massive party. Seeing Heather re-uniting with her family at last brought it all home once again. History has been made and I feel very privileged to have witnessed it all in person, and to have been included in the Moyse-Humphries cheering squad. Congratulations Heather!

I caught up with my cousin David MacDonald over lunch and checked out the Whistler version of the Canada Olympic House in the Public library. We arrived just in time for the big final of the ladies ski cross where Ashleigh McIvor kicked some butt and brought home yet another Canadian Gold medal. Later that night I sat with a couple dozen Olympians and friends as we watched Joannie Rochette skate beautifully in the ladies figure skating short program, only days after losing her Mother. There was not a dry eye in the house as Joannie finished her skate and succumbed to her emotions. Performing so well under such emotional strain makes her a true hero regardless of the final outcome.

The mountain, the track and the speed make for a wild at atmosphere at the Whistler Sliding Center

My first live bobsled event was truly amazing. I was pleasantly surprised with the great viewing options around the track, the freedom of fans to wander at will and the general festival like atmosphere. Heather and Kaillie were focused, professional and very, very fast from their first step. Much to the delight of all fans, but most especially Heather’s enormous cheering squad made up of her parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nephews, extended family, myself and let’s not forget, her high school physical education teacher Garth Turtle. Heather and Kaillie set the start record and track record in both the first two heats and now lead the field going into the final 2 heats.

Sharon and Cyril Moyse, proud parents of Heather Moyse

It’s been quite a journey for Heather since she first pushed a bobsled less than a year before the 2006 Olympics in Torino where she finished 4^th. Now a much more experienced Bobsled athlete, Heather has an Olympic Gold medal within reach. Like a true competitor, her focus is on process and her personal performance. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Heather and Kaillie have got what it takes to finish on top. All Islanders and all Canadians will be rooting for Heather and her partner Kaillie as they compete in the final heats of the Women’s bobsled at Canada’s Olympic Games.