Perseverance: “Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success:”
That definition comes from Oxford Dictionary.
Perseverance describes the first-ever Olympic medalist from Prince George.
Meryeta O’Dine’s pay off for her persistence came just before midnight Tuesday (Feb 8th) Pacific time, which was just before 4:00 p.m. Wednesday (Feb 9th) in Beijing.
The 24-year-old, not considered a medal favourite in part because she was ranked 12th in the World Cup standings this season, hit the podium after earning a bronze medal in the Olympic women’s snowboard cross.
Her impressive dedication and inspiring story are not just known in her hometown but around the country and internationally.
Success has been achieved but there was plenty of hardship along the way.
In Dave Feschuk’s Toronto Star’s column she was asked to sum up part of the pain she has experienced.
“I broke my back. I got a terrible concussion at the last Olympics. My brother passed away. That was super tragic,” O’Dine said.
In 2018, she was all prepared to make her Winter Olympic debut but that dream was shattered after suffering the fifth concussion of her career following a crash in practice just a couple of days before she was to compete.
In 2019, her season came to a halt after suffering a compression fracture in her spine.
In 2020, Meryeta’s older brother Brandon lost his battle with cancer.
Recovering from that devastating news was a struggle as she coped with anxiety and depression.
“There’s been a lot that’s happened over the past four years that have made me a stronger person through breaking down different barriers and coming out to the other side,” she said in that interview with Feschuk. “I’ve found a really great system and community that works for me and my friends and my family have been just absolutely nothing but supportive of me and my mission.”
Meryeta’s mom, Virginia O’Dine, and her many hometown supporters watched her four races on the big screen at the Westwood Pub.
.@meryetaodine looking to add second medal at Beijing Olympics
| https://t.co/znPDt9dhs1 #CityofPG #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #BeijingOlympics pic.twitter.com/5ZFK0QFUXz— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 11, 2022
She won the first round, the quarterfinal, and then her semifinal in come-from-behind fashion to advance to the final four.
A third-place finish has never felt so good as that Olympic bronze medal not only means so much now but will remain a lifetime memory.
Prince George to Beijing is 5,000 air miles away, but watching it live on television, makes it appear just next door.
Her Olympic experience though is far from done.
Next up for O’Dine will be the mixed team snowboard cross event tonight (PT) which is Saturday in Beijing.
The pressure is off but her tenacity will continue.
One day Meryeta O’Dine will be enshrined into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame but that is likely many years down the road.
In the meantime, PG’s athlete of the year (yes there should be an award for that like there was many years ago) will stay on the course looking to conquer whatever she sets her mind to.
Cat Scan podcast:
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller does part 2 of his chat with former @PGCougars owner Rick Brodsky
| https://t.co/HnhFXfJKCZ #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #northernuprising #sports pic.twitter.com/AvS9cN08gh— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 10, 2022
Taking Note:
Chiefs make coaching change as Smith replaces Maglio . . . Americans take their game outside . . . Ice gets rare taste of home cooking https://t.co/CKExaBcFQM
— Gregg Drinnan (@gdrinnan) February 11, 2022
With the LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals making final preparations for Sunday’s Super Bowl in Los Angeles, not everyone is concerned about who will win the game.
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY SURVEY (pollfish.com)
ONLY ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS (1/5) WATCH THE SUPER BOWL FOR THE FOOTBALL:
While 59% of Americans are interested in both the game and the commercials, only 21% tune in for the game alone. 15% are in it just for the commercials, and another six percent are forced to suffer through the Super Bowl against their will.
AMERICA’S TOP 10 FAVORITE SUPER BOWL FOODS:
(Based on the percentage of Americans who eat certain foods during the game)
#1: Chicken wings (33%)
#2: Pizza (22%)
#3: Chips & Dip (17%)
#4: Nachos (14%)
#5: Chili (6%)
#6: Hot dogs (4%)
#7: Sliders (3%)
#8: Cupcakes (1%)
#9: Macaroni & Cheese (1%)
#10: Cookies (1%)
Here are some more “out of the ordinary” Super Bowl facts:
- The average number of people at a Super Bowl party is 17
- 35% of people who attend the game write it off as a corporate expense
- 80% of all Super Bowl tickets sold go to corporate sponsors of the NFL and of the Super Bowl
- Super Bowl Sunday is second in food consumption behind only Thanksgiving Day
- The amount of food consumed includes an estimated one billion chicken wings and 28 million pounds of potato chips
- On the Monday following the Super Bowl, an average of six percent of the workforce calls in sick
- On the same Monday, antacid sales show a 20% increase
- More drivers are involved in alcohol-related accidents on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year (except St. Patrick’s Day)
- Of the top 10 most-watched television programs of all time, nine of them are Super Bowls
- Over 700,000 footballs are produced annually for official NFL use, 72 of them are used for the Super Bowl
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
Tom Brady says he’s “happy” with his decision to retire but added “never say never” when asked about potentially returning to the NFL next season. Translation: Depend if I find something else to do, Gisele doesn’t want me 24/7 around the house.
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Tom Brady recently announced his retirement. This means that he will be ready for the Bucs OTA’s in June.
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Tom Brady, to no one’s surprise, announced his retirement. That takes the undecided list down to Brett Favre (yes/no/yes/no/maybe) and Aaron Rodgers (still doing his own research).
*Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/
But wait, don’t you have to rip off your shirt and dance in the end zone in front of the crowd to retire from the Bucs?
*Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg on Tom Brady’s retirement
From the “when one door closes, another one opens,” files:
Closed: Pennsylvania’s Tower Health Medical Group fired Dr. Elizabeth Behr for prescribing Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid.
Open: Dr. Behr was just named the Green Bay Packers’ new team physician.
*Contributor Marc Ragovin of New York
In Case You Missed It:
Brianne Jenner’s two goals helped lift Canada to a 4-2 win over the USA in women’s Olympic hockey. I will say this for Brianne: she knows how to Jennerate scoring chances.
*Western Canadian comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the news and sports director/supervisor plus morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT and Country 97fm. He also is the radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars’ home games. Hartley has been on the Prince George airwaves since 1979 and is the author of You Don’t Say (sports quotes).