Canadians Celebrate First Medal at Canada Olympic House
Canadians gathered to celebrate the team’s first medal of London 2012 during a ceremony held at Canada Olympic House on Monday.
The jubilant crowd cheered as Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut congratulated Emilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel on their Day 2 bronze medal win in the women’s synchronized 3m springboard competition.
“We are very proud of you. Canadians everywhere are so happy about what you’ve accomplished and it’s just the beginning,” he said.
It was an extra special victory for Heymans, making her the first Canadian summer Olympian to win four medals at consecutive Games.
“We fought till the end and gave our everything for this medal, I know that the rest of the Canadian athletes will do the same,” said Jennifer Abel.
Emilie Heymans thanked fans back home for believing in them. “There’s a lot of support on Twitter from fans back in Canada which is really nice because we’re so far away and it makes us feel a bit more at home,” she said.
“The ambience and crowd is amazing,” said Laurene Jardin, mother of Barbara Jardin who will make her Olympic swimming debut in London.
Charles Pegg, who is in London to support Canadian artistic gymnast Dominique Pegg, said “you see them winning their medals on TV but to be a part of the celebration in real life is something else.”
