After downing Sweden in a historic Olympic final that ended in a nail-biting shootout on Friday, Canada’s 38-year-old captain Christine Sinclair confirmed that she’s not ready to hang up the cleats just yet.
“When I started playing with the national team, we were losing to the U.S. 9-0,” Sinclair said after the game. “That was, like, the norm. And to be a part of this group now standing on the top of the podium, honestly, I never thought I’d be a part of that group.”
When the all-time leading scorer in international soccer was asked if the Tokyo Games would be her last time wearing the Maple Leaf, Sinclair answered, “No, it’s not.”
“At the very least, we have a victory tour,” Sinclair continued. “I haven’t thought about it. I’m not gonna make a decision out of joy or pain, depending on how this tournament ended.
“I never do that.”
Christine Sinclair, the all-time top scorer in international soccer, wins gold 🥇 @sincy12 An awesome moment for her and Canada 👏 pic.twitter.com/w9xcgvcfnY— espnW (@espnW) August 6, 2021
Christine Sinclair, the all-time top scorer in international soccer, wins gold 🥇 @sincy12 An awesome moment for her and Canada 👏 pic.twitter.com/w9xcgvcfnY
Sinclair, who led Canada to bronze at the London Olympics in 2012 and again four years later in Rio de Janeiro, is a native of Burnaby, B.C.
The City of Burnaby quickly found another way to honor the Canadian legend, constructing and hanging a giant gold medal on the city center’s side, already named the Christine Sinclair Community Centre.
The Christine Sinclair Community Centre in Burnaby, B.C. got a very important update on Friday 🥇(via @CityofBurnaby) pic.twitter.com/iOXxjoZB3B— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 7, 2021
The Christine Sinclair Community Centre in Burnaby, B.C. got a very important update on Friday 🥇(via @CityofBurnaby) pic.twitter.com/iOXxjoZB3B