Sometimes it’s the Olympic success stories we’re not expecting that end up being the most memorable.
For Ron MacLean, that moment came in 1996 when swimmer Marianne Limpert put forth a thrilling performance to claim silver in the 200-metre individual medley in Atlanta.
“I can point to so many examples of where great performances had nothing to do with a gold medal—and I think that’s Olympism,” MacLean told Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Thursday morning. “I really hope that emphasis never changes; that we sort of understand the warrior respects the battle, not the outcome.”
The Hockey Night in Canada personality has covered plenty of Olympic Games throughout his broadcasting career, and has seen first-hand numerous iconic moments in the country’s Olympic history. He’ll be hosting CBC’s Olympic Games Morning in Rio.
Throughout his career, MacLean has also witnessed the rise of female athletes—something that’s especially evident in Rio.
“Sixty per cent of our athletes are women for Team Canada,” MacLean said.
He credits much of that athletic success to Abby Hoffman, a decorated track star and longtime advocate for women in sport.
“She was kind of the one who started the resistance, started the fight,” MacLean said. “It took Abby Hoffman to really flip the page in the 70s, and you’re seeing that here in Rio.”
MacLean suggested that the women’s rugby sevens “may be what the women’s soccer team was in London in 2012,” while also speaking very highly of Christine Sinclair’s performance on the pitch against Australia to kick off Canada’s soccer tournament on Wednesday.
Canada’s women’s gymnastics team, which placed fifth at London 2012, will also be in the spotlight, as will Canada’s golden girl in London and Friday’s Opening Ceremony flag-bearer, trampoline gymnast Rosie MacLennan.
MacLean also weighed in on the role of Canada’s funding efforts, such as Own the Podium, in helping develop strong athletes—male and female.
“One fear I have, is don’t be chasing medals too, too much or you’ll end up in that, you know, people will want to cheat,” said MacLean, who stresses the importance of developing not just good athletes, but good citizens to represent the nation.
“You’ve got to really be careful to develop them before, during and after their career,” he said. “In the end, sports has to be virtuous. If you start buying medals, I just don’t think that’s our way in Canada.”
While Canada’s biggest strengths are usually at the Winter Games, MacLean said Canadians have been on the rise when it comes to track and field.
“We have an amazing track and field team,” he said, describing the team’s “stunning” eight-medal haul at last year’s world track and field championships.
There are plenty of names to look for — high jumper Derek Drouin, heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, and decathlete Damien Warner, who MacLean calls “the best athlete in Canada,” to name a few.
And then there’s sprinter Andre De Grasse, who will make his Olympic debut after capturing the attention of the track world with his gold medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre sprints at the 2015 Pan American Games.
“Absolutely he can hit the podium (in Rio),” said MacLean. “He’s changed up his training a little bit this year and I think he’s gained an exposure to some of the wisdom you need.
“It will be a wide-eyed time for him, there’s no doubt, but (Atlanta 1996) was Donovan (Bailey)’s first, and he nailed it. He has a lot of good people around him,” he said. “He’s very highly-regarded by people in the know.”
