Singapore 2010

“These Games leave a human legacy in Singapore and around the world,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “Young Olympians, you have shown that a new generation is ready to embrace and share Olympic Values.”

The first-ever Canadian Youth Olympic Team captured 12 medals and a lifetime of memories. Canada finished 13th in the overall medal count, though the experience for Youth Olympians far outshone any race for medals.

Among the great Canadian performances at Singapore 2010, swimmers Rachel Nicol and Tera van Beilen earned three medals apiece, while fencer Alexandre Lyssov earned two.

With these successful Games now over, Canadian athletes reflected on the entire experience.

Dorothy Yeats (Montreal West, Que.), gold medal in Wrestling: “Sentosa Beach was really cool. I really enjoyed watching competitions from other sports and making friends with athletes from other countries,” she said about her experience in Singapore. “My medal is more encouraging than anything else. I haven’t accomplished my final goal, which is the Olympics, but I did what I came here to do and it’s a great stepping stone.”

Melanie Phan (Port Coquitlam, B.C.), bronze medal in Taekwondo: “My farourite part was meeting everyone and getting to know everyone in the village,” Phan noted about the Games. “Winning a medal is a great feeling. We won 12 medals and knowing that mine is one of them is very special.”

Henry Pan (Winnipeg), badminton: “I thought all the Culture and Education Programmes were interesting,” he said of this YOG-specific idea. “I’m feeling pretty good about how I did. I had a tough draw and I’m just really happy to be here.”

The first Youth Olympic Winter Games will be held in Innsbruck, Austria in 2012, while the next summer Games are slated for Nanjing, China in 2014. A contingent from Nanjing was on hand to accept the Olympic flag and presented a video, previewing what the world can expect four years hence.