Canada And Ice Dancing: Surprisingly Badass

February 23rd, 2010 | Author: Greta

: Image via Wikipedia

Monday, Canada had its day to squat on a patch of the Olympic hosting country’s mantra: own the podium. Ice dancers Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue won the gold medal in an elegant bloodbath of ice, sequins, lifts, and chiffon against dueling diva pairs from the United States and Russia. Who could not love Canada as the crowd sang ‘Oh Canada‘ in Canada for Canada? And we Americans all thought NO ONE knew the words to that song, except maybe Celine Dion and the people who hear her take showers.

Canada is like that girl who runs in the second tier of popularity in school. She’s kind (the one who shares her health care with you), and visible (everyone puts maple syrup of their waffles), yet not too impressive or intimidating to resent (no one fears a Canadian invasion). She’s the dark horse in the race for Homecoming Queen. And in the endgame of popularity, Canada is a ferocious competitor and earns the tiara right off our ostentatious American head.

This leads me to another sleeper, shocker or even wolf in sheep’s clothing: Olympic ice dancing. Many, including me, have insisted that ice dancing is not a sport. As a former sixth grade basketball player and runner of a twelve-minute mile, I say with confidence, even indignation, that those fluffy, giddy, sparkly DANCERS who claim to be Olympians are kidding themselves. My husband disagrees with me citing strenuous pose after lift after jump after drag after fall after jazz hands as indisputable evidence of their athleticism. While I admit that even my dreams are too flabby and unmotivated to perform these stunts, I still wouldn’t call an event in which you dress like a phoenix or an Aborigne to be a sport. There is one thing, though, that turns me into a believer. Their game on the podium.

That’s right. In a week of tears and lip biting and emotion over one’s own victory, the Canadian ice dancing duo proved themselves to be the true warriors of the medal ceremony. The duo won gold at their first Olympics. They danced like pixies and they dressed like divas, but they listened to their national anthem like champions. Not a grimace or drop of the head to hide emotion. They were happy like Olympic winners should be.

Then there’s the Russian couple who probably felt that gold was stolen from them. The couple mastered the stance of the non-verbal “You are fools. Ull ov you! Vaht ez Canada? Not evahn a Sputnik to your name! Blah! “ Oksana Domnina managed to eke out a trace of a smile for the kind lackey who awarded her that wretched disc of bronze. This is one tough Baltic beauty. If I were lost in a dark alley, I would chose to run into Lindsey Vonn over this ice swan.

Canadians and ice dancers provide a good lesson in not judging books by their covers. Just because someone exhibits grace and softness, does not mean they won’t icefish their way to world dominance.

Chose Greta for your alternative Olympic coverage. Check back tomorrow!