2010 Canadian Olympic Gold! Alexandre Bilodeau: Hero!
There are few times in one’s life where you can point to a pure moment of tears and triumph. The gold medal of Alexandre Bilodeau was one of them.
I stood in my study and cheered.
What could be more compelling than watching a young kid best everyone on the planet on a pair of skis and name his brother as his inspiration.
His only brother.
One with cerebral palsy.
If the Olympics stopped today, we’d be winners as a nation. Why? It’s quite simple really.
This country was built on persevering; on surviving challenging circumstances and making them better than how we encountered them.
…on offering a hand up.
Frederic Bilodeau should wear his brother’s medal to bed tonight. He inspired a national hero and a champion. Let THAT be a message to those whose disabilities seem too ominous to overcome. Let THAT be an example to those who cannot even think of one more day in the confines of their handicapped life. And let THAT be a motivation for the rest of us able bodied souls who can make a difference.
I swear I stood and cheered. And cried. And then cheered again. Pure magic.
What a magnificent triumph of athleticism.
But also, of the human spirit.
THAT, is what the Olympics MUST be about.
Congratulations to Alexandre and his wonderful brother Frederic–who, as a champion of life, inspired a champion of sport.
Beautiful.
Pure gold…
Pass the kleenex. What an inspiration.
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Truthfully, I could not keep a dry eye. To have your brother sitting there, suffering from cerebral palsy and name him as your inspiration…I just couldn’t take it. What a BEAUTIFUL moment…
It’s the moment of the Olympics. If we win gold in hockey, lovely, but it won’t compare. Not even close. Good to hear from you pal.
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This was definitely a story that one would think was the creation of some Hollywood writer. To watch Frederic cheering before his brother left the starting gate was truly inspiring. The bond between the two brothers is awesome.
It matters not what transpires through the rest of the games, The flag bearer for the closing ceremonies has already been chosen as far as I am concerned. It has nothing to do with the fact that he was the first to win a gold medal on Canadian soil, but to at least get one feelgood story from the games. What would make things even better would be if the Canadian athletes decided to have Frederic be the flag bearer at the conclusion. I think that would be the ultimate good news story of our olympics.
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I couldn’t agree more. Frederic should be made the flag bearer, without question. What a magical, wonderful story. Warms the heart. Even one as cold as mine
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There could not have been a better human being to be the first Canadian to win GOLD on home soil then this fine lad.
To think of what he just accomplished and for the first words to come from his mouth to be for his brother, was truly inspirational.
He is a sponsor’s dream…….some company sign him up immediately!
Lastly, Tiger who?
It shouldn’t have taken 12 mistresses while his wife was pregnant
with both of his children and his father dying to see he was a self-centered piece of shit; him and his ego were all about.
This is what a hero is.
Congrats Alexandre and Frederic!!!!
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Um…I believe that’s 18 mistresses, but who’s counting…?
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Well done Alex – I watched the interview last night with Alexandre and his family, and could not contain the emotion in my heart as well.
This is the classic example of what makes us great as Canadians, this unselfish nobility to do what we must, for no other reason than to fulfill the hopes and dreams of another. We do more than overcome, we survive and thrive and succeed, and when we fail, we get up and dust ourselves off and do it all again.
Alexandre, his brother, and the rest of his family are an inspiration to myself, and I hope, to others, to aspire to in whatever endeavor one undertakes in life. A beautiful moment to hold in our hearts forever!
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Thank you my dear, yes, it was beyond inspirational. Great stuff indeed. Thank you for stopping by. Always a pleasure.
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I understand that there was a stampede this morning (and probably late into last night) to get Alexander signed up for some commercial exposure (McDonalds was one). Good on him. He’s my hero.
I got to my office at 7:00 this morning and there was an e-mail from an associate in California who’s last name is also Bilodeau. He was as excited as hell. Said he watched the whole thing and was envious at my being Canadian (he;s a good friend).
Alexander truly does give us the pride we should have anyway. He just pronounced it properly.
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“If the Olympics stopped today, we’d be winners as a nation. Why? It’s quite simple really.”
So well put Alex!
In a few words you “spoke” for thousands of us!
Cheers
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Very funny… truly, funny.
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Proof positive that not all Quebecois have turned their collective backs on their spiritual traditions. What a fantastic feat, and one Quebecers and the Rest of Canada can be deeply and sincerely proud of in so many ways. What a great couple of boys, brothers in the real sense, and a mom and dad that backed them, with a sister on her way to great things; how could she fail? But you said it all Alex, in fewer words, this will be a hard gold to beat in more ways than one.
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Being as we’re on the subject of good feelings and how sports can inspire us physically, mentally and spiritually. A few weeks back on Global TV, on a show called (is it 24/7) something like that, the subject was the boxer Shaun O’Sullivan and his dis-
sipation (or bad luck?) in his latter years after his amazing career in the ring. Now I usually turn off the TV directly after the news (or just before Mike McCardell) in order to not catch the obnoxious Entertainment Tonight. Last night they did a fantastic follow up on their previous one. Apparently Shaun was not asked to carry the torch as it went through his home town of Belleville, Ontario. Perhaps he didn’t apply (though he shouldn’t have had to) and he had said he would have been very proud to do so. On the show last night we were told that boxer Dale Walters, along with a fellow called Ed Lee and the journalist Damian Inwood (hope I’ve got that right) chipped in in various ways to get Shaun to get to Vancouver and run the torch for 300 meters somewhere here in B.C.. He got a good turnout and the people loved him and cheered him on, proving we haven’t forgotten the medal he won for us all those many years ago.
I can be pretty critical on Global and the media in general, and, in most cases deservedly, but when they do well, along with certain columnists, they deserve their laurels.
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Too kind Sir Lawrence. And yes, O’Sullivan was a great one.
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And if I have heard and read the media correct how could the Quebec premier and Bloc piss on the Olympic parade? I was born in Quebec and every time they run up the PURE LAINE flag it is too bad politics trumps sanity in Canada.
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Yes, too bad. Too bad indeed. I lived in Montreal and loved it. But they are a totally different world from us. They cannot demand French here anymore than we can demand English there.
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