Canada jumps it's way to silver

Canada's showjumping team gave fans alot to cheer for as well as alot of inspiration today.  The Canadian team of Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, Ont., Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, Ont., Mac Cone of King City, Ont., and the ageless Ian Millar jumped they're way to an imprssive silver medal performance in team showjumping.  The Canadians were tied for fourth place going into the final, and were hit with a devastating blow when Mac Cone's horse Ole when down to injury.

With the odds stacked against them Ian Millar the 61 year old anchor of Canada helped step up his jumping, with a clean rounds that along with the help of Lamaze and Henselwood propelled Canada to a first place tie withe the US.  With the scores tied it came down to a jump-off.  With Canada down a rider and unable to drop a low score it was too much for Canada to overcome as the Americans rode cleanly and captured the gold.

While Canada came up short they have plenty of reason to hold they're heads high.  For Erik Lamaze after a career filled with controversy and tough times it was sweet vindication.  A man whose career has been marred with Cocaine and drug convictions and his share of critics to come in and perform the way he did is admirable and a great test to his perseverance. 

For Jill Henselwood it was a thrill to win but also a little disappointing, "This is incredible," Henselwood said, "but I wish we had a gold."  A terrific  team performance by Canada was the key to moving into a medal position.  Weather they would have taken gold or not with the addition of Cone and Ole will remain a mystery, but for Canada to overcome that and to even come close it quite remarkable.

For Millar competing in his 9th Olympic games couldn't have been happier with his first Olympic medal, `We are a small country in terms of the sport," said Millar. "This is an incredible achievement. The support we have all year motivates us.  Thank you Canada! This medal is for you as much as it is for us."  At 61 years old Millar becomes the seventh oldest athlete to win a medal in Olympic games history.  It was also a very emotional moment for Millar who lost his wife Lynn to cancer in March of this year.  Ian recalled some words of wisdom his late wife gave him, "I remember back in the early 70s when I had a disastrous Grand Prix, my wife, Lynn, said to me, `Don't worry, you're going to be a late boomer.' That's what she said to me and I've always held that thought," said Millar. "And so the Olympics don't go well and I'd say, 'Lynn said I'm a late bloomer, I'll go to the next one.' And sure enough, guess what happened? I bloomed." 

With a medal under his belt Millar inteneds to compete in the next Olympics which will make him 65 years of age.  An incredible performance by Canada one that will likely help the equestrian program only grow in Canada.