| Canada at the 2012 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| IOC code | CAN |
| NOC | Canadian Olympic Committee |
| Website | www |
| in London | |
| Competitors | 277[1] in 24 sports |
| Flag bearers | Simon Whitfield (opening)[1] Christine Sinclair (closing) |
| Medals Ranked 27th |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
| Other related appearances | |
| 1906 Intercalated Games | |
Canada, represented by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. Canadian athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1900, except the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because of the country's support for the United States-led boycott. Canada sent a total of 281 athletes to the Games to compete in 24 sports. With the initiation of its "Own the Podium" programme, the COC set a goal of finishing in the top 12 for total medals;[2] but the nation came up short of this goal, finishing 13th in the medal standings. Canada matched its total medal count from Beijing 2008, finishing the event with 18 medals: two gold, six silver and 10 bronze.[3]
Canada left London with a single gold medal, awarded to trampoline gymnast Rosannagh MacLennan in the women's event. This was its lowest count of golds in a Summer Olympic games since 1976. However, weightlifter Christine Girard, initially the bronze medallist in the women's 63 kg event, was subsequently upgraded to the gold medal position in April 2018 following the disqualification of the gold and silver medallists. This raised Canada's gold medal count to two, which still remained the nation's lowest count since 1976, where it failed to win a gold despite being the host.[4]
Prior to Girard's being upgraded to the gold medal, Canada's performance had broken the record for the highest total medal count for a nation with only one gold medal. This was despite several Canadian athletes just missing out of the medal finishes, including the men's 4 x 100 m sprint relay team, who were disqualified after finishing in third. Canada left London with 5 silver and 11 bronze medals. The media nicknamed this the "Bronze Games" for Canada due to the disproportionate number of bronze medals won (compared to the solitary gold medal) compared to previous Olympics. Diving pair Émilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel won the nation's first medal in the women's synchronized springboard event. Heymans became the first Canadian athlete to win Olympic medals in four consecutive games. Canada also won the bronze medal match in the women's soccer tournament, the first for the nation since 1904, and the first in a traditional team sport since 1936.[5]
- ^ a b Joanna Smith (12 August 2012). "London 2012: Triathlete Simon Whitfield named Canada's flag-bearer at Olympics". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "COC aiming for Top 12 ranking in 2012 Games". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Canada falls short of medal standing at London 2012". 1310 News. 13 August 2012.
- ^ "Canadian weightlifter gets 2012 Olympic gold after top 2 stripped of medals – CBC Sports". Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Waddell, Dave (10 August 2012). "First on podium since Windsor team". The Windsor Star. Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.