Notable quotes from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: July 28

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This article was published 28/07/2021 (1505 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Here are some notable quotes from Canadians and other athletes at the Tokyo Olympics from Wednesday, July 28, 2021

“I don’t think I’m here by chance. I think every time in Rio I got a medal I was like ‘I’m so lucky, I’m so lucky’ but I think now I have a lot of confidence in my training and I know that I’ve put in a lot of work.”

— Penny Oleksiak, after winning a bronze medal in the 200-metre freestyle. Her sixth career medal makes her Canada’s most decorated summer Olympian.

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“Hurting it here is difficult, it’s frustrating, it’s upsetting. But I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs, and this was just another one that I had to overcome.”

— Canadian gymnast Ellie Black, after revealing she is withdrawing from the women’s all-around final with a sprained left ankle.

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“It’s just hopefully a message not to ever be limited by your circumstances, and that any sort of physical disability or something that you can’t control that happens to you is not something that has to define you.”

— Jessica Sevick, on recovering from a traumatic brain injury 20 years ago to becoming an Olympian. Sevick and partner Gabrielle Smith finished out of the running in women’s double sculls.

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“I was really calm at the start line. But I heard the announcer say, “Jane Nicholas is the first ever woman to go down an Olympic course.’ And I thought, ‘I’m going to be the fourth.'”

— Canoe competitor Haley Daniels, on getting to compete in the Olympics after years of fighting for her sport’s inclusion. Daniels failed to advance out of qualifying heats at the women’s C-1 canoe slalom.

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“I can finish the match but I can die. If I die, are you going to be responsible?”

Tennis player Daniil Medvedev, after the chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, asked him if he could continue playing amid Tokyo’s extreme heat and humidity. He managed to keep playing and win his match against Italy’s Fabio Fognini.

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“Boxing isn’t a super popular sport for girls yet, but I hope I can inspire all the little girls and all the little boys and anyone who wants to take up the sport, who wants to take up their dreams.”

— Canadian boxer Tammara Thibeault, who is moving on after winning her first fight against Nadezhda Ryabets of Kazakhstan.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2021