Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Best Moments
Canada was changed forever when Vancouver hosted the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Where once Canadians might have been shy about showing their national pride, there was now unabashed joy in wearing head-to-toe red and white, in having the maple leaf emblazoned on their chests. Here are some of the very best moments of the last Olympic Games held at home.
When Clara Hughes led Team Canada into BC Place for the Opening Ceremony, the roar from the crowd that greeted them was just the start of what was to come.
When Wayne Gretzky hopped in the back of a pick-up truck to carry the Olympic flame downtown to light an outdoor cauldron, it was the most Canadian thing people had ever seen.
When Alex Bilodeau won Canada’s first ever Olympic gold medal on home soil with his biggest fan, brother Frédéric, cheering him on from the front row, there was hardly a dry eye across the country.
Alexandre Bilodeau celebrates his gold medal win at the men’s mogul at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday February 14, 2010, at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick 
Canada’s Alexandre Bilodeau celebrates his gold medal, Canada’s first of the games, during a medal ceremony at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Monday, Feb. 15, 2010.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
When Maëlle Ricker became the first Canadian woman to win Olympic gold at home, everyone knew she couldn’t have written a better story than to do it in what was pretty much her backyard.
When Christine Nesbitt fulfilled all expectations and won 1000m gold at the Richmond Olympic Oval, everyone delighted in her delight with coach Marcel Lacroix.
Gold medallist Canada’s Christine Nesbitt, right, and her coach react as she waits for the outcome of the last race during the women’s 1000 meters race at the Richmond Olympic Oval at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) 
Canadian speedskater Christine Nesbitt, from London, Ont., stands on the podium after receiving her gold medal for the women’s long-track 1,000m competition during the medal ceremonies in Vancouver, BC Thursday Feb. 18, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld 
When Jon Montgomery hollered as he leaped onto the top step of the podium and then celebrated his skeleton gold with a big gulp of beer, there was a new most Canadian moment of the Games.
Canada’s Jon Montgomery celebrates winning a gold medal in the men’s skeleton competition at the Whistler Sliding Centre at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Whistler, B.C., Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh 
Canada’s Jon Montgomery celebrates winning a gold medal in the men’s skeleton competition at the Whistler Sliding Centre at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Whistler, B.C., Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
When Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir mesmerized with their stunning free skate to Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, there were suddenly 35 million new ice dance fans.
Team Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir perform their free dance in the ice dance competition Monday February 22, 2010 at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Virtue and Moir won the gold medal in the competition. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Robert Skinner 
Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir performing their free dance during the ice dance figure skating competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip,File) 
Ice dance gold medalists, Team Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, celebrate after receiving their medals during victory ceremonies Monday February 22, 2010 at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson 
Tessa Virtue of London, Ont. and Scott Moir of Ilderton, Ont. do a victory lap with their gold medals in ice dance at the Pacific Coliseum at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C, Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. (CP PHOTO)2010(HO-COC-Mike Ridewood)
When Ashleigh McIvor won the first ever Olympic gold in ski cross, everyone relished in Canada’s greatness at new Olympic events.
When Team Canada did a 1-2 finish in women’s bobsleigh, everyone wanted to be a part of the podium party.
Canada’s Ashleigh McIvor skiis to gold during women’s ski cross final at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday February 23, 2010, at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick 
Ashleigh McIvor (Vancouver 2010) 
Canada’s Kaillie Humphries, left to right, Heather Moyse, Helen Upperton, and Shelley-Ann Brown, celebrate their gold and silver medals following women’s bobsled competition at the Whistler Sliding Centre at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Whistler, B.C., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh 
Kaillie Humphries and Heather of Canada celebrate their gold medal with teammates and silver medalists Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown during ladies 2 person bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Whistler, B.C. THE (CANADIAN PRESS)2010(HO-COC-Dave Sandford) 
Canadian bobsleigh gold medalists Kaillie Humphries, Heather Moyse and Canadian silver medalists Helen Upperton and Shelly-Ann Brown, left to right, pose with their medals at the awards ceremony on Thursday February, 25, 2010 at the Whistler Olympic Park during the 2010 Winter Olympic games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
When the women’s hockey team shut out Team USA to win their third straight Olympic gold, everyone knew they were watching a dynasty at work and a star on the rise in Marie-Philip Poulin.
Canada’s Hayley Wickenheiser celebrates after defeating the USA during the women’s final ice hockey game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Thursday Feb. 25, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward 
Team Canada celebrates with their gold medals Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 after defeating the USA 2-0 in the women’s gold medal final ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward 
Canadian players celebrate after defeating the USA during the women’s Olympic gold medal ice hockey game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Thursday Feb. 25, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Scott Gardner
When Joannie Rochette had the skate of her life just days after her mother’s sudden passing, there was no hiding the emotions as the country supported her through the most difficult of circumstances.
When the men’s short track relay team revealed Operation Cobra, everyone admired the ingenuity that helped win Charles Hamelin win two gold medals in just half an hour.
Canada’s Olivier Jean, right, pushes teammate Francois-Louis Tremblay to go on to win the gold medal in the men’s 5000 metre relay final in the short track speedskating competition Friday February 26, 2010 at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson 
The Canadian men’s short track speed skating team Olivier Jean, Guillaume Bastille, Charles Hamelin, Francois – Louis Tremblay and Francois Hamelin,left to right, celebrate their gold medal win February 26, 2010 in the mens’s 5000 metre short track relay finals held at the Pacific Coliseum during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tara Walton 
Canada’s Charles Hamelin receives his medal as teammates Guillaume Bastille, Francois Hamelin, Olivier Jean and Francois-Louis Tremblay, left to right, look on after winning the gold medal in the men’s 5000 metre relay in the short track speedskating competition Friday February 26, 2010 at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
When Jasey-Jay Anderson won his long-awaited Olympic gold just 10 minutes after Mathieu Giroux, Lucas Makowsky, and Denny Morrison were victorious in the team pursuit, it was hard to imagine ever coming down from the high. If anything, another gold later that night in men’s curling just kept it going.
Canadian speedskaters Denny Morrison , left to right, Lucas Makowsky and Mathieu Giroux race to a gold medal finish during the men’s team pursuit finals at the Olympic Winter Games in Richmond, B.C., Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Robert Skinner 
Canadian speed skaters Denny Morrison, left, Lucas Makowsky and Mathieu Giroux, right, celebrate their gold medal in the men’s team pursuit long track speed skating race Saturday February 27, 2010 the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Robert Skinner 
Jasey-Jay Anderson of Canada celebrates his gold medal run at the men’s parallel giant slalom at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, B.C., Saturday February 27, 2010, at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick 
Canada’s Jasey-Jay Anderson holds his daughters Jy, left, and Jora, right, as she holds his gold medal after he won the men’s parallel giant slalom snowboard final at the Vancouver Winter Olympics at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday February 27, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck 
Canada alternate Adam Enright, left to right, lead Ben Hebert second Marc Kennedy, third John Morris and skip Kevin Martin show off their gold medals after defeating Norway during Olympic men’s curling finals action at the Olympic Centre on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 during the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
When Sidney Crosby scored the Golden Goal that gave Canada’s its record-setting 14th gold medal on the final day of the Games, there was no stopping the spontaneous street celebrations from coast to coast.
Canada’s Sidney Crosby celebrates his game winning goal during overtime period in the men’s ice hockey gold medal final at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver on Feb. 28, 2010. With one final flick, Crosby’s 2010 overtime goal won Canada the gold medal and elicited national pride to the host country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson 
Canada’s Sidney Crosby skates with tha flag after scoring the overtime winning goal in men’s ice hockey gold medal final at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward 
Thousands of jubilant Canadian hockey fans celebrate Canada’s 3 -2 overtime gold medal hockey victory at the corner of Robson and Granville Streets in downtown Vancouver Sunday, Feb.28, 2010 at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Scott Gardner 
Canadian fans celebrate their gold medal victory against the United States in the final hockey match at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) 
Canadian fans celebrate as Team Canada score in overtime in their gold medal victory against the United States in the final hockey match at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, while watching the game on a giant display in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Since then, the pride has never died but only grown.
