Brush with Olympian Greatness

jsbertram · #1 Posted **Feb 13, 2010, 11:15 PM**

Here's a forum to share our "Brush with Olympian Greatness" stories.

Not the "I saw *** running the torch" or "You'll never guess who I saw walking on Robson Street yesterday", but rather your stories of running into Olympians or other celebrities doing the mundane daily stuff.

mine: Standing in line at the cashier at Choices behind someone in a track suit with a full cart of groceries. I'll admit I grumbled when there were problems with scanning their debit/credit card. Only later did I recognize him as the flag bearer when Norway walked in during the Opening ceremonies.

Yume-sama · #2 Posted **Feb 13, 2010, 11:19 PM**

How the heck would you recognize a Norwegian flagbearer lol

jsbertram · #3 Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 1:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

How the heck would you recognize a Norwegian flagbearer lol

nice TV closeup when they were entering BC Place.
Although I doubt I'd recognize him if we bumped into each other at Choices again. It might be one of those "geeez -- wasn't that ....?" thoughts that hit you minutes later.

djun · #4 Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 3:49 AM**

Managed to get some pictures with Kevin Martin and Clara Hughes!

Yume-sama · #5 Posted **Feb 15, 2010, 1:57 AM**

I can't say for sure, but I'm pretty sure I saw Shaun White near Robson Square lastnight, walking down the middle of Robson towards Seymour St.. I had to take a second look, but he has a, shall we say, rather distinct look to him. Long flowing orange hair (though mostly covered under a hood) and everything

I think he saw me looking at him and he put his head down lol - it could have been a clone, but if not, it's about as big as it can get. I guess. Short of pretty much any hockey player.

nova9 · #6 Posted **Feb 15, 2010, 2:24 AM**

I took a picture with Jennifer Heil today near the waterfront as she was heading out of the MPC after her press conference.

Pinion · #7 Posted **Feb 15, 2010, 2:40 AM**

I was sitting near Jacques Rogge, John Furlong and Gordon Campbell for hours today. Does that count?

GeeCee · #8 Posted **Feb 15, 2010, 2:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

I was sitting near Jacques Rogge, John Furlong and Gordon Campbell for hours today. Does that count?

No, yes, and no.

Pinion · #9 Posted **Feb 15, 2010, 2:47 AM**

Rogge actually was an olympian though.

Rowing I think?

Yume-sama · #10 Posted **Feb 16, 2010, 10:42 PM**

I went to a scummy bar on Granville called Roxy lastnight with some friends, and there was a lot of Olympic peoples there.

Several members of Slovakia hockey team (no Chara

), several Finland Olympians, several Slovenians, and a lone Swiss skier.

Coldrsx · #11 Posted **Feb 16, 2010, 10:45 PM**

^ah the Roxy... giving better DNA to Vancouverite women since feb 2010.

Yume-sama · #12 Posted **Feb 16, 2010, 10:47 PM**

It was 10x classier than some of the popular hangouts in Calgary, but still pretty scummy

Somehow some girl knew the owner so we didn't have to wait in line. And I wasn't willing to wait in line anywhere (and there were 3 hour long lines EVERYWHERE). I'm a cocktail lounge kind of guy

Not a flailing on the sticky dance floor while a cover band pays 80's music kind of guy.

Coldrsx · #13 Posted **Feb 16, 2010, 10:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

It was 10x classier than some of the popular hangouts in Calgary, but still pretty scummy

Somehow some girl knew the owner so we didn't have to wait in line. And I wasn't willing to wait in line anywhere. I'm a cocktail lounge kind of guy

Not a flailing on the sticky dance floor while a cover band pays 80's music kind of guy.

try:

lucy mae brown - basement
salt - an alley of blood
goldfish - hamilton and restauranty but nice

or if you want an unbelievable bartender go to the Loden hotel's lounge. He gave us drinks we have never heard of and told us the history of them whilst making them from scratch.

Smooth · #14 Posted **Feb 16, 2010, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

I'm a cocktail lounge kind of guy

Not a flailing on the sticky dance floor while a cover band pays 80's music kind of guy.

The difference between those two guys is just a few rum & cokes.

Yume-sama · #15 Posted **Feb 16, 2010, 10:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth

The difference between those two guys is just a few rum & cokes.

It is almost like I can not get drunk. Can honestly say I never have been. I think it is my super power. Everyone else was falling over and blacking out and we all drank the same, I went home and did some work on the PC.

Same thing happened in Las Vegas. I tried one of every single drink at every bar inside the Wynn over the course of 5 hours, and then went upstairs and finished up work.

Sometimes I think other people just pretend to be drunk.

The Swiss skier could sure knock them back, I tell you

Pinion · #16 Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 1:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

It is almost like I can not get drunk. Can honestly say I never have been. I think it is my super power. Everyone else was falling over and blacking out and we all drank the same, I went home and did some work on the PC.

Same thing happened in Las Vegas. I tried one of every single drink at every bar inside the Wynn over the course of 5 hours, and then went upstairs and finished up work.

Sometimes I think other people just pretend to be drunk.

The Swiss skier could sure knock them back, I tell you

I have the same problem and as a result don't drink. There's no fun in it.

jlousa · #17 Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 2:53 AM**

The basement at Lucy Mae Brown wouldn't be too exciting now since they were shut down months ago.

There's a cool little place in gastown behind the Salt tasting room (not to be confused with salt) and the Irish heather, you have to walk thru them to get to a laneway and then into the place, there have been a few interesting guests there in there last week.

jsbertram · #18 Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 4:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

I was sitting near Jacques Rogge, John Furlong and Gordon Campbell for hours today. Does that count?

Were they haggling over who's gonna pay for this party?

SpongeG · #19 Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 4:49 AM**

I was walking down burrard past the hyatt when we saw a little crowd and lots of noise and people excited and than the SUV pulled off and drove on - I asked who it was and the guy sai it was Wayne Gretzky! missed him by a few seconds he was at the hyatt during the game i guess

jsbertram · #20 Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 5:50 AM**

I think we've drifted away from the "Brush With Greatness" that I was thinking of.

I wasn't going for the "Wasn't that whats-her-name--the actress in that car that drove by just now", but rather the day-to-day interaction like being at Future Shop and helping someone in a team Suisse uniform pick out the right SD card for their camera; or standing at the bar when you're asked by someone you vaguely recognize if the Granville Honey Pale you're drinking is better than a Molsons.

You may not bump into Wayne or Nikki or George since they are super-famous (and 'their people' can buy the right SD card at Future Shop), but you might have bumped into Alexandre or Maelle last week before they became Gold Medal famous -- when they were still somewhat anonymous and doing ordinary things like shopping at Pacific Centre.