Canadian Olympians Return Home After Record-Breaking Summer Games: Fans Celebrate Heroic Feats
The airports in Toronto and Montreal were buzzing with excitement on Monday as fans and families cheered for Canadian Olympians coming back from the Paris Games. Team Canada made history with a record number of medals, winning nine gold and 27 in total. These achievements surpassed the previous records set in Tokyo and Barcelona.
At Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, about 15 Team Canada athletes arrived to a warm welcome from flag-waving airport staff and thrilled fans. The Olympians landed just before 4 p.m., and among them was 17-year-old swimmer Summer McIntosh. Summer became a household name after winning four medals, including three gold. She carried the Canadian flag in the closing ceremony alongside gold-winning hammer thrower Ethan Katzberg from Nanaimo, B.C. Summer called the experience “honestly amazing.”
“I can’t say thank you enough to the fans for all their support. It means the absolute world,” Summer said. “Even when we were over in Paris, we could feel their support.”
Olympic medalists Joshua Liendo and Kylie Masse also greeted fans at Pearson airport. Silver medallist rower Jessica Sevick from Strathmore, Alta., arrived with teammate Kristen Siermachesky from New Liskeard, Ont. Jessica had lost her voice from all the celebrations, but Kristen said it didn’t stop them from enjoying the moment.
“Years of hard work, and just being able to release that with your teammates in Paris after celebrating that silver medal was pretty special,” Kristen said.
Swimmers Alex Axon, Ella Jansen, and Lorne Wigginton, who made their Olympic debut in Paris, also touched down in Toronto. Alex, from Newmarket, Ont., who competed in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, shared his excitement about the homecoming.
“It takes a whole team of people — they say it takes a village — and just looking around here, I see so many people. It’s incredible,” Alex said. “I hope I was able to make them proud.”
Among the youngest athletes was 14-year-old Fay De Fazio Ebert, a Toronto skateboarder who became Canada’s youngest Olympic team member since 1976. Fay placed 20th in her Olympic debut and was proud of her efforts.
“It feels amazing to represent Canada and to know that a bunch of people have my back during this,” Fay said, adding she’s “looking for more” and will continue working hard to improve.
In Montreal, Sylvain Fafard was thrilled to welcome his son, Thomas Fafard, who made it to the final in the men’s 5,000-metre event. Sylvain, who watched Thomas compete in Paris, described the experience as “magic.” Thomas tripped and hurt his ankle during the final, but Sylvain emphasized how proud they are of his journey.
Nathan Zsombor-Murray from Pointe-Claire, Que., arrived at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport after winning a bronze medal in the men’s 10-metre synchronized platform with his partner Rylan Wiens. Nathan, a humble 21-year-old, kept his medal in his suitcase, saying he doesn’t like to flaunt it.
Caeli McKay from Calgary, who competed in the women’s 10-metre platform and synchronized 10-metre platform, expressed joy at seeing her supporters in the stands. Unlike the Tokyo Olympics, where the pandemic kept fans away, having a cheering squad in Paris was a highlight for Caeli.
Cedrick Belony-Duliepre from Montreal’s South Shore represented Haiti to honor his grandparents. Though he lost in the round of 16 in men’s 80-kg boxing, Cedrick cherished his time in Paris as a dream come true.
“I worked so hard since the age of 15, I’m now 25, and it’s been 10 years of sacrifices, with highs and lows,” Cedrick said. “Every day I worked for this … I made sacrifices, with the highs and lows I never let go.”
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