Video: Olympians reflect on the 2012 Games

Last Friday, Canadian Cycling attended an event held by Cycling Canada Cyclisme to honour Olympians who participated in the London Games. The athletes gathered in Toronto to have their achievements celebrated and to look ahead to the next Olympics in Rio. The room was filled with this country’s “cyclo-minati:” SpiderTech powered by C10 manager Steve Bauer, road and time trial cyclist Clara Hughes and paracycling gold-medal winner Robbi Weldon. We caught up with a few coaches and athletes to get their thoughts on the Olympics that just past and the ones to come.

Gillian Carleton won a bronze medal at the 2012 games in London in the women’s team pursuit along with Jasmin Glaesser and Tara Whitten. Carleton says she learned from Simon Whitfield that it’s important to enjoy the whole Olympic experience. She says you prepare to perform in the moment and enjoy it. She’s had success with that approach and is looking forward to building on it for Rio.

Canada’s national women’s coach for the 2012 Olympics in London says Canada is in a good position to build from London. Kelly says the team was competitive and she’s looking forward to better results in Rio.

Olympic bronze medallist Jasmin Glaesser says she learned a lot from her Olympic experience in London. She said the planning and preparation was exceptional and those things can be refined and improved for Rio.

Gord Fraser says there’s “unfinished business” for the men’s national road cycling team. Fraser says the depth of talent in Canada right now is tremendous and that will help to plan and prepare for Rio.