Canadian women play starring role in unforgettable year of sports history, triumph
CBC
The most-watched moment of the Tokyo Olympic Games. The most decorated Olympian of all-time. Eighteen of Canada's 24 medals in Tokyo.
Canadian women were at the heart of it all in 2021.
Even away from the Olympics, two of the biggest moments involved — you guessed it — Canadian women.
From the soccer team's golden game to Penny Oleksiak in the pool to hockey redemption and a surprising march to a tennis Grand Slam final, here are the performances that wowed us this year.
"Change the colour of the medal" was the motto of the Canadian women's soccer team ahead of Tokyo. Mission accomplished.
Their journey captivated the nation. From back-to-back bronze medals in 2012 and 2016 to Olympic champions in Tokyo, 4.4 million Canadians tuned in to CBC to watch captain Christine Sinclair and Co. play Sweden for gold.
In the quarter-finals, goalkeeper Steph Labbé was instrumental in a penalty shootout win over Brazil, stopping two.
Next was the semifinal win over longtime nemesis, and reigning World Cup champions, the United States. The last time they'd beaten the Americans was back in March 2001. And who could forget the controversial loss in the semifinals at London 2012? But thanks to a cool penalty from 23-year-old midfielder Jessie Fleming, all that heartbreak was erased.
The nail-biting gold-medal game against Sweden went to penalties, where youngsters stepped up. Twenty-two-year-old Deanne Rose kept Canada alive in the shootout before 21-year-old Julia Grosso nailed home the winning kick to set off a frenzied, tearful celebration.
WATCH | Canada stuns Sweden to capture gold:
Team effort, for sure, but individual highlights kept coming. Fleming, Sinclair and Ashley Lawrence all earned nominations for the Ballon d'Or, as the globe's top player of the calendar year.
Sinclair, Labbé and Priestman are up for FIFA's Best awards in February.
Midfielder Quinn became the first openly transgender and non-binary athlete to win an Olympic medal. They continue to be a powerful voice for transgender athletes around the world.
The look of awe said it all.
