Advertisement

Canada’s disqualified 4 x 100 team gets a medal — from a 10-year-old fan

Neate Sager

Canada's 4 x 100 relay team might like to distance themselves the the disqualification which knocked them off the Olympic podium. However, as soon as they arrived home, they got a reminder of how the country was touched by the swirl of emotions they went through after believing they had earned a bronze medal for about 10 minutes before being informed of Jared Connaughton had committed a lane violation.

Here's one "ahhhh" example of how Canadians have reached out to the teams.

Elijah Porter, 10, wrote to the team and sent them his own Timbits hockey medal to take its place.

Sprinter Justyn Warner tweeted a picture of the medal and handwritten letter on Monday.

The letter states: "We're Canadians. We persevere. We create better lives for each other. We didn't lose the War of 1812. I hope you like the medal." (680 News)

It wasn't the only medal the team received to recognize their effort — the decision was just, but it doesn't erase that they burned up the track and showed they were Canada's best 4 x 100 team since 1996 — that nearly brought Canada a medal. Connaughton was also honoured when he arrived home in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on Monday. The way he took ownership for the mistake is a great example of accountability.

Meantime, how about a hand for young Elijah Porter, presuming it was all his own decision without any encouragement from a parent? Not just any child would give up a token of his own accomplishments. And remember, if any other Canadian children do the same thing, well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.