The entire country watched Monday night, as Comox含羞草研究社檚 Cassie Sharpe laid down the top two runs of the entire competition to win the ladies含羞草研究社 ski halfpipe gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The reaction on social media was immediate, and vast.
From celebrities and fellow Olympians, to the prime minister himself, the congratulatory shout-outs were making the rounds all night.
It含羞草研究社檚 not often that anyone is recognized by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:
Another gold for Team Canada and a first in women含羞草研究社檚 ski halfpipe! Congratulations .
含羞草研究社 Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau)
But the PM himself was 含羞草研究社渙ut-cooled,含羞草研究社 when Ryan Reynolds expressed his Canadian pride.
Go !!@CassieSharpe is a legend 含羞草研究社 makin含羞草研究社 it look easy. And thank you & for agreeing to raise my children as your own.馃嚚馃嚘
含羞草研究社 Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds)
The Reynolds tweet grabbed the attention of the champion herself:
This is 含羞草研究社榓lmost含羞草研究社 as good as winning gold today!!!! Thank you 馃憦馃徏馃弳
含羞草研究社 Cassie Sharpe (@CassieSharpe)
And there was reaction from the hill as well. Two-time Canadian Olympian Perdita Felicien posted a video of Cassie含羞草研究社檚 parents, Chantal and Don, the moment the gold medal was won.
Closer to home, the excitement flowed, with viewing parties at private homes and local eating establishments throughout the Comox Valley.
含羞草研究社淚 think we all watched it with a bit of nervousness含羞草研究社 but it was a great result and certainly something that we are all really proud of,含羞草研究社 said Comox Mayor Paul Ives.
Cassie has been recognized by the Town of Comox on previous occasions. She was a recipient of the Ray Crossley Youth Achievement Award in 2012.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 pretty cool to see that,含羞草研究社 said Ives. 含羞草研究社淎 lot of those young people have gone on to bigger and better things as time goes on, but I think this is the first time we have ever seen someone win [an Olympic] gold medal.含羞草研究社
Where does it rank all-time in regards to individual achievements for a Comox athlete?
含羞草研究社淲ell, a few years ago, we had some Olympic athletes from the past honoured; people like Susan Kelsey (swimming, Montreal 1976 含羞草研究社 bronze medal 4x100m medley relay), I think Tom Hershmiller was another one (rowing, Athens 2004 含羞草研究社 silver medal in coxless four; Sydney 2000 含羞草研究社 seventh coxed eight), but certainly in recent memory, I think this is one of the biggest accomplishments we have seen.含羞草研究社
Ives said the Town will discuss options to officially recognize Sharpe at some point, once scheduling and availability is worked out.