Paige Crozon reflects on first Olympics

“It was really rewarding to set a goal of making the Olympics and then seeing the process through. It took us five years to get there, so to stick with it, go through some challenges and hardships and then come out on the other side is always really rewarding. It’s a great gratification that we don’t experience so often now in society and it made me proud.”

(Submitted photo/Paige Crozon)

While Team Canada did go to France with high expectations, as earning a medal was very much on their mind, according to Crozon, the largest expectations were put on them by themselves.

And although they are still racking their brain around different plays and possible situations that could have transpired, they understand they left everything on the court, that there must be winners and losers, and that they were damn close to finishing much higher.

“Playing at a high level for so many years, we always want to win, and we wanted to win in Paris. I’ve said this a few times, but it feels like you lose a medal twice because you lose in the semi-finals, and then you have about an hour and a half to regroup and play in the bronze medal game. It is still tough and we’re still kind of grieving the loss of not bringing home a medal,” added Crozon.

“I can confidently say that we left absolutely everything on the court, mentally, emotionally, physically, we gave it everything we possibly had within us, so I’m really proud of our effort and how hard we fought. We tried our best, which is all you can really ask. To not have a middle is disappointing, but I’m sure in the next few weeks and months, I’ll have time to reflect and be a little bit more okay with our efforts.”

(Submitted photo/Paige Crozon)

The 3×3 Olympic format saw eight different countries playing one game each against every opponent during the round-robin.

Following that, the top-six teams advanced to playoffs, with the top two earning a bye straight to the semi-finals.

Canada finished with a 4-3 record in pool play, putting them in a four-way tie for second place.

Tiebreakers ultimately led them to fourth place, as they then cruised past the fifth-place Australians in the quarters, by a score of 21-10.

(Submitted photo/Paige Crozon)

The Canadians would then have to play the top-ranked Germans (6 and 1 in the round-robin) in the semis, which they lost by just one point on a heartbreaking buzzer-beater.

The Canucks would then match up with their rival Americans in the bronze medal game, which they led 12-9 with less than three minutes remaining.

Unfortunately, however, USA would go on a 7-1 run in the final two-and-a-half minutes, claiming third place.

“We’ve been playing every single scenario in our heads since the Olympics. The format was gruelling, but I think that’s what makes it also so special, because you go to the Olympics and you’re playing against the best talent in the hardest format you ever could imagine, and just challenging yourself to the highest extent,” continued Crozon.

“It was so tough, and I felt so drained and tired after but now I can reflect back and say I was capable, I did that and I was able to withstand that kind of toll on my body. It was tough, but I’m really proud that we were able to compete for that many games.”

(Submitted photo/Paige Crozon)

What may have made it easier is that Crozon and her teammates were surrounded by people who were in it as much as they were.

Whether it was the four of them who have spent the last five years together and nearly every minute of every day in Paris, the other hundreds of Canadian athletes all in the same boat and repping the Maple Leaf, or their families at the games being their biggest supporters, it was truly a group journey.

“We just were all repping the Maple Leaf, I think that was so unifying and I’ll cherish it forever. Win or lose, my teammates and I had an amazing time with one another. We have such a special connection, so to be able to share this experience with them was so awesome, positive and fun, and I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else,” Crozon said.

“My family has made so many sacrifices for me just to be able to get to this point, so I was so happy to have them there. My daughter (Poppy) had a great time cheering her little heart out in the front row… she’s been in the gym with me every single day, so it was only right and fitting that she was there with me at the Olympics as well.”

Poppy Crozon (submitted photo/Paige Crozon)

And the cheering won’t soon be over either, as Crozon and her team will be right back on the court this weekend.

Making its first-ever stop in Saskatchewan, the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Basketball Series will make its way to Saskatoon, as Crozon is prepared to play roughly an hour away from her hometown of Humboldt.

“To be able to play at home, I’m extremely excited about it. We are a little bit beat up and tired from the tournament, so it is a quick turnaround along with the travel, but we’re going to be ready to play on Saturday,” Crozon concluded.

“We always want to be professional, so to play in front of friends and family, and to play on home soil is amazing. We’re going to be ready come Saturday and I’m just excited to see so many people from my family and my community and Saskatchewan there in the crowd.”

(Submitted photo/Paige Crozon)

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

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by Ben Tompkins

Paige Crozon reflects on first Olympics

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