COVID-19 protocols didn’t allow for fans at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics – one that was historic for London, as five individuals from the Forest City captured gold medals at the Games.
With that in mind, Tourism London and the City of London partnered to host ‘London’s Olympic Celebration’ in late August, an event held at Labatt Park to hear from many of our local Olympians and celebrate their accomplishments while learning more about their experience in Tokyo. Hosted by local emcee Mike Stubbs, hundreds of Londoners turned out to see gold medalists Damian Warner, Maggie Mac Neil and Susanne Grainger, as well as rower Jen Martins and basketball player Miranda Ayim.
Fans got to hear from them directly the stories from Tokyo, which included competing without fans at the ‘COVID’ games, persevering through the intense summer heat, sleeping on the infamous cardboard beds, as well as the impact growing up and training in London has had on their career. It also provided Londoners the chance to get loud and cheer for the athletes, a sound the athletes hadn’t had a chance to hear in quite some time.
Warner may have been the biggest draw. He became Olympic champion in the decathlon in Tokyo, thus earning the title of ‘world’s greatest athlete.’ His 9,018 points in the two-day event broke the Olympic record, and his performance earned him the honour of carrying Canada’s flag at the Games’ Closing Ceremony.
Swimmer Maggie Mac Neil, another star of the Games, was also in attendance at London’s celebration. She won Canada’s first gold medal in Tokyo – in the 100m butterfly event – and ended up with a medal of each colour, earning silver in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay and a bronze in the 4x100m medley relay. Susanne Grainger was also golden in Tokyo, claiming her medal as part of Canada’s women’s eight rowing crew, a first for Canada since 1992.
Miranda Ayim, meanwhile, was Canada’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony. A veteran of Canada’s women’s basketball team, she was competing at her third and final Games in Tokyo, having recently announced her retirement after competing in Rio in 2016 and in London in 2012. London native Jen Martins, a participant in the women’s coxless four, described her experience training for the Games while balancing her career as a dentist in Komoka.
Two athletes who were unable to attend London’s Olympian Celebration were Jessie Fleming and Shelina Zadorsky, members of the gold medal-winning women’s soccer team in Tokyo. Fleming was a star on the pitch at the Games, scoring two crucial penalty kick goals to help the team become the world’s best. Both women are in Europe competing in their fall seasons and will look to be honoured by the City once they finally return home.
In all, it was a historic Games for London athletes, who achieved some impressive results – including more than half of Canada’s gold medals overall. With London’s Olympian Celebration, local fans and supporters were finally able to give them the applause they deserved.
By SportsXpress Team
