Mogul mogul not an Aussie? I Begg to differ!
February 16, 2006 by admin
Filed under Sports Rumors
So, some people are complaining that the freestyle skiing moguls gold medalist, Dale Begg-Smith is not really Australian?
The fact that he was born and raised in Canada means nothing to us. According to a report in Fox Sports, Begg-Smith moved to Australia when he was 15 because of a conflict between the Canadian moguls skiing program and his business interests.
Most Australians are imports anyway – our ancestors either came here looking for a bit of space, or they were dragged here for stealing a loaf of bread … so if someone chooses to move here now, they are as much Australian as the rest of us, I say.
So now the Canadians want to claim him back as their own? Sorry – once someone has lived in Australia, they are forever Australian, no matter whether they stay or go. We are known to adopt anyone we wish – especially if they are good at sports! :)
Begg-Smith is the first Australian medalist at Torino 2006, and only the third gold medalist in Australia’s Winter Olympic history. Steve Bradbury (short track) and Alisa Camplin (freestyle aerials) were the previous gold medalists, both in 2002.
… and yes, we reserve the right to make a big deal about any medal at the Winter Olympics, given that for a large percentage of the year, there is no snow to be found in Australia! It’s like learning to swim without water; learning to pole vault without a mat (or a pole!); learning to bobsled without Bob. You do what you can with what you’ve got – and when you are victorious, you tell the whole world how great it is to be an Aussie. Oi Oi Oi.
“given that for a large percentage of the year, there is no snow to be found in Australia!”
WTF? there is no snow every except the high country of Victoria, NSW and occasionally the CBD of Melbourne 100% of the year.
do we know what internet company this guy runs? he’s suppose to be a dot.com millionaire?
Fine work Sim! We are on track to equal our best effort ever (and on the same gold total as the Canadians).
When Alisa wins the Gold, those Cuncks will probably try to say the donor of the knee tisue thats now in her knee was a Canadian and try and claim her as well!
Molly
Article in The Age has some comments about his business (not very complimentary either) … The ski dream funded by a spam fortune
abc.net.au write: “The Canadian-born freestyle skier has won four World Cup starts this season and is president of AdsCPM Network.
Reportedly worth $40 million, the firm buys pop-up advertising rights to highly viewed internet web sites.
Begg-Smith makes money off the pop-up ads most people find annoying.” – http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200602/s1569971.htm
The Guardian in the UK write: “Begg-Smith is estimated to be worth £10m on the back of AdsCPM Network, and CPM Media, companies specialising in the internet that he founded as a 13-year-old with his brother Jason, who is also a skier.” – http://sport.guardian.co.uk/turin2006/story/0,,1709779,00.html
As a Canadian, I feel it’s a shame he did not compete as a Canadian. But it’s Canada’s faulty attitude that led to this, so kudos to Australians, you rock.
We’re pretty used to this. Lots of Canadians play for the US. One of the top biathletes was a Canadian who went to another country. One of the top womens lugers went to her mother’s country.
In truth, Canadian athletes have won 4 medals for other countries.
It happens, we’re pretty good about getting over it ;-)
Hey Jeremy,
You have to ask yourself, why is it so? There obviously is something wrong with Canada! ;-)
Well that, or why wouldn’t you want to live in the greatest country in the World and the worlds most livable city, Melbourne!!!!
Molly
Phillip, I agree with you.
What I wonder is why our world champions SUCK at the olympics.
Well, well, well…. fancy so many Aussies in this entry. :p
Congrats, guys.
From an “adopted”/naturalised Australian’s point of view, I do love it when Aussies say that where someone was raised isn’t an issue, as many Aussies are imports anyway. It makes me realise why I chose to call this country my new home. And, yes, I love it. :-D
Anyway, congrats to Dale Begg-Smith and my fellow Aussies for our first gold in Torino.