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Lawrence Lemieux's Olympic Dream Through
the "Beijing mist", otherwise known as smog, athletes
who have risen to the pinnacle of their sport will compete at
the 2008 Olympics in paddling, windsurfing, dinghy sailing and
rowing - for country, for glory, for pride, for the watery sports
they all love - they'll all leave their wake on China in pursuit
of the Olympic ideal. A few, will savour the flavour of victory
and Olympic hardware will be anchored around their necks. Most
will realize the agony of defeat: their spirits made more buoyant
for the experience, they will return to their homes around the
world with a "medal in my heart"* - but no one will
quite do it the way a former member of the JSCA did; no one will
likely do it like Lawrence Lemieux. There were two members of the Jericho Sailing Centre Association representing Canada 20 years ago at the Seoul, South Korea Olympic sailing venue in Pusan. Richard Myerscough, who sailed under our burgee in the Windsurfing Class described the sea surface condition in the race area as house sized "lumps of porridge": a highly confused, agitated sea state with no distinctive wave pattern to set your course by, establish a rhythm or reliably use to generate boat speed. The convergence of open ocean currents of the South China Sea made for a very challenging Olympic field of play for everyone, in every class. Lawrence Lemieux wasn't expected to medal in the Finn Class. He was a long shot underdog at best, but every Olympian pursues their dream to the end and every competitor knows that, in a race, even a series of races, anything can happen. For Lawrence, it did happen, in a most unexpected way. In the 5th race of the 7 race series a 15-knot breeze suddenly transformed and billowed to a honking 35 knots, further tormenting the breakfast cereal seas. Lawrence, a confident heavy air sailor, was comfortably in second place and potential medal contention heading for the windward mark when he noticed a distress situation on the adjoining International 470 race course. The Singapore team was floundering, ability severely overcome by the conditions, one crew in the water which was boiling like Quaker oats, the other perilously clinging to the bottom of the capsized vessel - no rescue or support boats in sight. Lawrence, in his words, "just did what anyone would do," he effectively abandoned his Olympic dream and performed an amazing rescue, hauling each of the hapless sailors onboard his tiny single-handed craft, all the while taking on water and struggling with the cruel gruel seas for control and ultimately survival. Lawrence never hesitated or regretted trading dreams of Gold,
Silver or Bronze for his fellow sailors. At the Finn Class Olympic
medal ceremony, Lemieux was awarded the very rare "Pierre
de Coubertin Medal" for Sportsmanship - while thousands
of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals have been awarded in Olympic
history only 9 such medals have been awarded. With these words
the President of the International Olympic Committee bestowed
this medal upon the then member of the JSCA:" By your sportsmanship,
self-sacrifice and courage you embody all that is right with
the Olympic ideal." The Jericho Sailing Centre Association's 35th Annual General
Meeting will be held Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 1900H in the
English Bay Banquet Room of the Jericho Sailing Centre, 1300
Discovery Street, Vancouver, B.C. The 2007/2008 J.S.C.A. Board
and Committees will report on their accomplishments this past
year and the challenges for the future. Please plan to attend
and participate in the future direction of your ocean access
community centre. Join the Jericho Kayak Fleet Send us your Jericho Sailing Centre photos Jericho Folk Club Fair winds, |
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The
Vancouver wing of the Air Force Association of Canada, the Air
Force Officer's Association, the Air Crew Association of Greater
Vancouver and the BC Veterans Commemorative Association are
seeking your support to commemorate the significant role of
the military personnel who served at the Jericho Beach Flying
Boat Station and to recognize the distinctive nature of the
station as the first Royal Canadian Air Force air base in BC.
For more information take off to: | For More Weather Information Please Click on Images Below |
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