Emotional Days for Alpine Canada’s Ski Family
On January 16th, Jan Hudec ended the 20 year Olympic medal drought for Alpine Canada. The last Canadian Alpine Olympic medal was won by Edi Podivinski at the Lillehamer Olympics in 1994. It took ‘the Panda’ just under a minute and a half to end the drought and become a household name.
Jan Hudec…Jan himself pronounces his last name one of two ways: Hudek, is the way his name has been said by class mates, friends and the ski racing community since Jan was a young boy. His family, Jan senior and his mom Vladi have always used the Czek pronounciation of ‘Hudetz’.
Jan, as Canadians are coming to realize, is an easy going character, generous of spirit and very kind hearted. Always the people pleaser, it was difficult for Jan to determine which way to say his name but two years ago, he settled on ‘Hudetz’. That said, I have since overheard him introduce himself as ‘Hudek”, seems he is also very indecisive!
Jan’s story of resiliency is a good one, it warms our hearts, fills us with the belief that dreams can come true. His community spirit and genuine nature is what gives athletes and his team a good name. As Canadians come to know Jan, they will embrace his kindness, his tenacity and his quirkiness. Yes, ‘Panda’ is quirky, funny, somewhat odd and very likeable. What you see is what you get, how refreshing!
Canadian ski fans have been waiting for the drought to be over, for twenty years and four Olympic Games they have been imagining a Canadian on the Olympic Podium.
The Canadian Alpine Ski Family is a tight knit community, we feel each others successes and failures. We relate to the effort and commitment needed to achieve excellence. We share the joys and the sorrows together.
This ski family watched and cheered as Jan stormed down the mountain. Racing with a broken and sore body, they willed him to succeed and celebrated with him as he crossed the finish line. This ski family of mine felt his excitement and we shared his joy.
On the same day the drought ended, Edi Podivinski received a phone call that his big brother Tom passed away in a tragic ski accident in Montana…
We share his sorrows…
We also lost a father during these Olympic Games, warm hearted Wilf Stemmle passed away February 9th…
My conflicted heart remains full with Olympic Spirit yet it is sad and aching for my ski family.
Sending love from Russia…
