Heartbreaker

Canada's women's soccer team lost to the US in a heartbreaking semi-final game yesterday.  Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair scored three goals, giving the Canadians a lead each time, only to see the US come back to tie the game, and then crushingly take the lead 4-3 on a header in the 2nd minute of injury time following a 30 minute extra time period (just before a shootout would have decided things).

Canada hadn't beaten the US since 2001, and were heavy underdogs, but for the most part outplayed ths US and might have won if it weren't for a few controversial calls by the referee (particularly leading up to the third US goal).

It has been a bit of a dry spell for Canadian medals, but we still have a few good opportunities to come.  Hurdler Phylicia George and her teammates all qualified for the semi-finals which take place tonight.

The Canadian horse jumping team suffered a setback when rider Tiffany Foster was disqualified because her horse was deemed unfit to ride (because of a scratch on his left forelimb above the hoof).  The team ended up having to ride 4 riders instead of 5, and had to count all scores, instead of having the luxury of dropping their worst score.  They ended up in 5th place.

Top officials of the Olympics gathered yesterday to remember the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches slain 40 years ago in a terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics in 1972.  This was not the public tribute that the families of those killed had been hoping for (and asking for for many years).