Erin McLean ready to pursue softball gold
July 07, 2008 - 04:38
By Brad Kelly
WHITBY-Erin McLean was home, albeit briefly, so the suitcase that has been seemingly packed for months remained so.
She's living the Olympic dream, and out of a suitcase, as the time ticks down before landing in Beijing in August for the 2008 Games.
"You get used to living out of a suitcase and it doesn't wear on you as much as it did the first year on the team," says McLean, a 23-year-old softball player from Whitby who patrols second and third base for the national team. "Now, because we are so close to the Olympics, it's being excited about the opportunity ahead of you and looking forward every day."
Indeed, the countdown is on to the opening ceremonies for the Olympics on Friday, Aug. 8. The Canadian squad swings into action on Tuesday Aug. 12 when they begin their quest for gold against Chinese Taipei. Games will follow for six consecutive days before enjoying a day off prior to the start of the medal round.
Between now and then, the team will compete in the Tri Nations Cup in Kitchener beginning Sunday, head to British Columbia from July 12-20 for the Canada Cup, fly over to Japan for the Tri Nation Tournament from July 25-27, then on to Beijing.
While the schedule is a hectic one, the level of competition the team will face at each of the events will go a long way in helping them prepare for the pressures of Olympic competition.
"We are playing Olympic competition every day," says McLean of the grind. "We are right where we want to be and we still have the opportunity to improve."
Once the round robin at the Olympics opens, the host venue will not be a foreign one to the club. Canada will have the advantage of having played twice at the Fengtai Softball Field in previous international games. The familiarity with the surroundings will be beneficial, says McLean.
"It is an advantage because you want to be as comfortable as possible wherever you are playing," she adds. "Having been on the field, we know what the bounces are like, we know what the infield and outfield is like."
Heading into the Olympics, Canada is ranked fifth in the world behind the United States, Japan, China and Australia. But, over the past two years, Canada has defeated three of those teams, with just the United States remaining an obstacle they have yet to get past.
"I think we are better than that," says McLean of the fifth ranking, which if improved, would make them a medal contender. "We're talking about medals. We have been highlighted by the Canadian Olympic Committee as a medal hopeful and that's what we are going for."
In previous Olympics, Canada's best showing has been fifth in both 1996 and 2004. Softball has been removed from the 2012 Games, but is seeking reinstatement for 2016.
Follow Erin's Olympic blog: durhamregion.typepad.com/erin_mclean/
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