The Club at the Olympics

taking tokyo – the club at the olympics

After an unprecedented year, The Arbutus Club proudly watched as staff and members participated in the world's foremost sporting event

The road to the Olympics is no easy feat under normal circumstances, though this year provided an array of new challenges. Delayed by a year due to the pandemic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics managed to kick off successfully, though a much more subdued affair than previous games. Making the event extra special was the inclusion of members John Smythe and Scott Tupper, both of whom played on the Canadian Men's Field Hockey team. Club staff also took part with Gymnastics Coach Gord Bennett sitting on the judging panel for Women's Gymnastics. Congratulations to our Arbutus Clubbers who represented the incredible talent we have to offer here at the Club.

Gord Bennett

judge , women ' s gymnastics

Gord has been involved in gymnastics nearly all of his life with experience as an athlete, coach, and a judging official. Joining the The Arbutus Club Gymnastics program in 2001, Gord has helped many of our young athletes reach their sporting potential. His talent as a coach and knowledge of the sport landed him the incredible appointment as a judge at the Olympics in Tokyo this summer.

How was your experience judging Women’s Gymnastics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics? Tokyo 2020 was filled with a lot of emotion. The games were quite unique, not only due to all the COVID protocols in place to safeguard the well-being of participants, but because they provided many unexpected results, such as the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) winning the team title ahead of the USA, and Simone Biles not winning any gold medals.

What do you look for when you are on the judging panel? As a part of the E-panel (Execution), I looked at technical aspects of the performances - checking for body positions, precision of elements, etc. I also looked at the artistic side of the performances on balance beam and floor exercise. It was an honour and a privilege to be in such a pressure-filled position where Olympic champions were decided.

Was there a performance that surprised you whilst judging? There were several performances that impressed me. The overall ability of the ROC to win the team title showed that despite the world situation surrounding COVID, they were able to put all their hard work and dedication into practical success. Individually, I was impressed by Rebecca Andrade from Brazil. She won a silver medal all-around and took the gold medal on vault - after having three ACL replacements. And of course, I was impressed by Ellie Black who had the highest individual placing ever by a Canadian gymnast at the Olympics when she just missed a medal on balance beam - while competing on a severely sprained ankle.

Food & Beverage The Arbutus Club at the Olympics

Scott Tupper

athlete , field hockey

Scott began playing with the Vancouver Hawks field hockey team when he was 6 years old. Developing into a gifted player, he was keen to pursue a future in the sport. Scott's trajectory for success led him to play for the UBC field hockey team, as well as the Canadian Men's National Field Hockey Team. Making his Olympic debut in Beijing, Tupper has played field hockey all around the world over the past 16 years.

What was your experience at the Tokyo Olympics? This year was obviously a little bit different than the past, but it was a really great experience. Despite the COVID protocols, the village was a fun place to be and it felt quite close to the ‘normal’ thing. I really love being amongst the best athletes in the world, experiencing all the different athletes, and competing amongst the best in the world in my sport.

Preparation is key when competing in the Olympics. How did the team ready themselves for the Olympics? We weren’t able to travel as much as we have in previous years, but we did get to Europe for some training tours. A lot of our training was Vancouver-based and we had a heavy emphasis on physiological work. Playing 5 games in 7 days at an Olympic level is really difficult, especially in hot conditions, so we had to be sure that we were prepared. We escaped with no injuries, so it looks like a lot of the work paid off.

Has the Club helped you in your sporting career? Being a Club member was hugely helpful – we have a great training environment at the Club. I was able to get all the necessary space and equipment needed to supplement what I was doing with my teams. It’s also the best spot to hang out, see friends, and relax. It's a home away from home.

John Smythe

athlete , field hockey

Introduced to field hockey at the age of 4, John often ran up and down the sidelines of his brother's games. His fascination with the sport soon turned into competing at the provincial and national level. Despite a Crohn’s disease diagnosis, three major surgeries, and falling out of the National program for 4 years, Smythe was determined to overcome the obstacles. Since then, John has represented Canada at the Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, World Cup, and most recently, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

How did it feel to participate on the world's biggest stage? The Olympics have always been a dream of mine. Stepping into the Olympic Village for the first time was simply surreal. I had a lot of emotion run through me as I proudly sung the national anthem for the first time. My heart was racing. However, I maintained a constant smile – I was finally going to become an Olympian. All those feelings were soon washed away. A few deep breaths and I was clear-minded, ready to help my team compete against the best in the world.

Although the Men’s Field Hockey team didn’t make the podium, the team served up some incredible competition. What’s next for the team? We have some down time for roughly three weeks, then we will slowly ease into training as we have the Pan American Cup in January, which is a direct qualifier for the World Cup.

Thank you to The Arbutus Club, its members, and community who have been overwhelmingly supportive during my time on the team, but especially over these past 5 years. Having access to all the facilities, whether it be the weight room or the pool for recovery, the Club undeniably has an instrumental effect on my field hockey career and shaped me to be the athlete I am today. ♦