Notable quotes from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: July 30, 2021

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/07/2021 (1505 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TOKYO – Here’s a selection of notable quotes from Canadian and other athletes at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, July 30, 2021.

“It was just a reminder that Kathleen was with us — and we’re the storm and we’re going to bring it. We had a moment as a boat to remember her and make sure we brought the amazing grace and grit she rowed with into our race.”

— Susanne Grainger, one of the members of the rowing women’s eight team that won gold on Friday. Team members said they were racing with the memory of Kathleen Heddle, the Canadian three-time Olympic gold-medal rower who died of cancer earlier this year.

—–

“It’s definitely something in the back of my mind, but I don’t know. I have six Olympic medals. There’s only three people in Canada that can say that.”

— Swimmer Penny Oleksiak, who finished fourth in the women’s 100-metre freestyle despite a personal best time. A seventh medal for Oleksiak would break the record for most Olympic medals by a Canadian athlete.

——

“I wish I could have done a bit more but the other side is, six weeks ago I was on crutches and in a boot. The fact that I was able to get here and compete, represent Canada in the sport that I love and do as well as I did, I know I have to be happy with that.”

— Canadian Rosie MacLennan, who finished fourth in the women’s trampoline event. MacLennan, who won the gold medal in the last two Olympics, revealed she was fighting an injury she’d sustained before the Games.

—-

“It’s not a good position to be in. This is my third Games and I know a lot can go down, no matter the rounds, so I think you have to run these rounds as a final, and today that was all I could give you.”

— World silver medallist and Canadian record-holder Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, on watching to see if she’d advance to the semifinals after finishing fourth in the heat of the women’s 800 metres. In the end, she missed qualifying.

—

“We did our best to acknowledge them and give our thanks. It was so special to finally have fans in the stands and we really felt their support. In games like this that go to 120 minutes and then penalty shots, that little bit of energy can help push the team over the top.”

— Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé following Canada’s quarterfinal victory over Brazil on penalty kicks in women’s soccer. The game was played in front of about 4,000 fans at Miyagi Stadium, more than 360 kilometres north of Tokyo, out of the scope of the Japanese capital’s state of emergency.

—

“He won 20 Grand Slams. So you can’t have everything.”

— Tennis player Alexander Zverev of Germany, after knocking off tournament favourite Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles competition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 3021.