Olympics a 'positive' experience
Aug 18, 2008 - 05:33 AM
Brad Kelly
QINGDAO -- Chris Cook readily admits there are some things he would have changed in his Olympic sailing races.
But regrets? He has none.
The 33-year-old finished fifth overall in the Finn class, after an eighth place finish in the medal race held at the Olympic sailing venue in Qingdao.
"Overall the Games has been positive for me," he said through an e-mail. "Obviously, I would have liked to win a medal here and I think I was very close to it.
"There were two races that I would like to have back to do again but that is always the case when you don't win. I am going to take some time now to decide what I am going to do in the sport for the next four years, that may or may not include another Olympics, time will tell."
Britain's Ben Ainslie won his third straight Olympic sailing gold, with Zach Railey of the U.S. in the silver medal position in his Games debut, while Guillaume Florent of France captured the bronze.
Ainslie has previous golds from 2004 and 2000, as well as a silver from 1996, and came on strong in the Qingdao medal final, which counts double.
For Cook, who first began sailing at the Whitby Yacht Club, but has since moved to Toronto and is based out of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, he will leave these Olympics with a lot of good memories. Being in a position to capture a medal in the final race tops the list.
"Having a chance at a medal going into the medal race. That was my goal all along so it was great to accomplish that," he said.
Having spent much of his life trying to get into a position to represent his country at an Olympic Games, Cook isn't sure whether a return to London in 2012 is in the books.
One thing that is a certainty is the lifelong friends he has made in the sport and vowed to keep.
"I have learned a lot about myself during the past four years. This event was one that has really brought out the best in me as well as many of my friends.
"I've learned that the friends that I have made through sailing will be friends for life."
Recommend :
Latest News
Elderly woman killed in crash in north OshawaOSHAWA -- A late afternoon crash in north Oshawa has killed an elderly woman. The accident happened Friday at the intersection of Ritson and Winchester Roads about 4:45 p.m....
GM truck plant to close earlier than expectedOSHAWA -- CAW local 222 President Chris Buckley says the federal government has to act now to save jobs amidst the economic crisis that has brought General Motors to its knees...
Whitby girl missing since OctoberWHITBY -- Police are seeking help locating a Whitby teen who's been missing since late October. Melissa Lal, 16, of Foundry Lane in Whitby was last seen Oct. 24. The girl ...
Durham residents arrested in bank card skimming operationDURHAM -- Five Durham residents are facing more than 180 charges following an investigation into tampered banking machines. Durham Regional Police major fraud unit began ...
A reluctant rat: Agent wanted outWHITBY -- He was paid thousands to inform on drug dealing among his biker brothers, but a police agent has testified he was reluctant to implicate two Hells Angels in a murder...
An accident every two minutes on OPP-patrolled roadsDURHAM -- The timely return of wintry driving conditions had Ontario Provincial Police receiving, on average, an accident report every two minutes on the roads it patrols in ...
Key witness on hot seat at biker trialWHITBY -- The cross-examination of a key witness in the trial of two high-ranking bikers began Thursday with a full-out assault on the police agent's credibility. Defence ...
Nuclear waste building opening at PickeringDURHAM -- While a federal agency continues to work on finding a site to permanently store nuclear waste, Ontario Power Generation is moving forward with a storage solution at ...
Moving day for mental health bedsAJAX -- The mental health beds are officially on their way out of Ajax and into their now home in Scarborough. In March, the Rouge Valley Health System announced changes ...
Whitby woman one of four murdered in ScarboroughWHITBY -- Neighbours of James and Elizabeth Tompkins were, for the most part, reluctant to speak about the couple this morning. Mr. Tompkins was released by Toronto Police on ...