Rosie MacLennan puts the podium in perspective

Rosie MacLennan has never lacked for admirers. But the four-time Olympian and only Canadian ever to deliver back-to- back golds in the same event earned a whole new level of respect in Tokyo this week. It wasn’t just that her trampoline routine drew gasps from judges, or that she soared to fourth place on a barely healed ankle fracture. It was more that MacLennan’s first thoughts as she entered the obligatory mix zone, were congratulations to her fellow competitors. A graceful gesture in the spotlight , sure, but MacLennan has lived those words behind the scenes for nearly two decades now. She is devoted to the causes of women and girls in sport. Her masters research was all about rights and responsibilities for athletes. And while school kids across Canada have suffered academic setbacks during the pandemic, Rosie has consistently fought to keep physical literacy on the agenda too. Taking a thoughtful fifteen minutes in the International Broadcast Center with Anastasia Bucsis this weekend, MacLennan was obviously happy to skip any talk about her historic competitive career... and argue instead for the virtues of 'disorganized play' among youngsters. Which only confirms what her fellow athletes have said about her all along. Give MacLennan a platform, and she’ll rise to it, for all the best reasons.