10 Ways Canada Has Already Won The Winter Olympics

Canada has a heart of gold. And also just a lot of gold.

1. When the Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion released this response to Russia's anti-LGBT laws.

“The games have always been a little gay. Let’s fight to keep them that way.”

2. When an Olympic qualifier took one for Team Canada and gave up his spot to another teammate.

Jim Urquhart/Usa Today Sports

Phil Noble/Reuters

Gilmore Junio (left) gave up his spot in Sochi to Denny Morrison (right), a three-time Olympian who did not qualify in his 1,000-meter speedskating event during the trials in Calgary last month. “How Denny is skating now, I believe it’s in the best interest of the team if he races,” Junio said. "To represent Canada at the Olympics is a huge honour and privilege but I believe that as Canadians, we’re not just here to compete; we are here to win. Denny has proven to be a consistent medal threat in the distance."

And then Morrison went on to win silver!

olympics.cbc.ca

Which really was a win for both Morrison and Junio.

CDN Olympic Team @CDNOlympicTeam

RT @CanuckTennisFan: The silver medal belongs to @Denny_Morrison and @cdnhappygilmore. A selfless act that should make all Canadians proud!…

03:32 PM - 12 Feb 2014

CDN Olympic Team @CDNOlympicTeam

RT @RoseyLaRose78: Denny Morrison wins Silver for #Canada and no better way to pay respect to his teammate Junio. #WeAreWinter @CDNOlympicT…

03:32 PM - 12 Feb 2014

3. When, shortly after his win, Morrison started a Twitter campaign to select Junio as Canada's flag bearer during the Sochi closing ceremonies.

Denny Morrison @Denny_Morrison

@cdnhappygilmore for Closing Ceremonies flag bearer! This guy showing everything that is Canadian pride and Olympic Pride. #ThankYouGilmore

05:11 PM - 12 Feb 2014

4. When a Canadian coach helped a Russian skier complete his Olympic race with dignity.

Twitter: @MrHExperience

Russian athlete Anton Gafarov crashed during his run, breaking his left ski. After stumbling to finish the course, Canadian cross-country coach Justin Wadsworth ran onto the slope and replaced the broken ski. "I wanted him to have dignity as he crossed the finish line,” said Wadsworth.

5. When they showed everyone up by creating an ingenious beer fridge that can only be accessed by a Canadian passport.

Brian Towne @briantowne

Canada excelling in Sochi "@Molson_Canadian: Spotted! The beer fridge in Canada Olympic House in #Sochi #wearewinter "

05:20 PM - 10 Feb 2014

6. When Ottawa's mayor shut down some haters in the best possible way.

Twitter: @JimWatsonOttawa

7. When only two of the Dufour-Lapointe sisters took medals home but all three siblings cheered for each other.

Dylan Martinez / Reuters

Canadian freestyle skiers and sisters Chloe Dufour-Lapointe (left) won silver and Justine Dufour-Lapointe (right) won gold. Even though their eldest sister, Maxime (below), finished 12th, she continued to cheer her siblings on from the crowd.

AP Photo/David Goldman

8. When, after beating his fellow countryman to get gold, Alex Bilodeau left his competitor with only kind words.

Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

The two Canadian freestyle skiers grew up skiing on the same slopes, with the same clubs, and under the same coaches. When Alex Bilodeau (right) won gold over his close competitor Mikael Kingsbury (left), who won silver, Bilodeau graciously passed the torch. “That guy that finished second, he is going to win everything after I’m gone,” Bilodeau said.

9. When Bilodeau then dedicated his Olympic gold to his brother who has cerebral palsy.

NBC / Via buzzfeed.com

“Whatever I do in life, my brother is my real inspiration," Bilodeau was quoted as saying by The Denver Post. "Just like you and I, he has dreams and most of them are not realizable to him. But he never complains that it’s not realistic to him… He lives his dreams through me. So today, [and] Vancouver, for me, it’s the least I can do. He is my everyday inspiration.”

10. And when — amid all sportsmanship and thoughtfulness — Canada actually won a bunch of medals.

sochi2014.com

Twitter: @Molson_Canadian