Sports and the Olympics can be seen with both a tear-filled and critical eye

It's easy for me to say that I absolutely love my job. For the past 10 days, I have planned my days and completed assignments around these Olympic events, both predicted results and burgeoning storylines.

Olympic-level drama started before the Games even officially began because of dronegate and Canada's Soccer team. With that, an onslaught of media appearances, explainers and updates on news programs ensued. But the one thing that keeps me invigorated, other than journalistic practices, is sports. 

On Monday I found myself standing in front of a large screen absolutely crushed that Canada's women's 3x3 basketball team lost by two points to the U.S. and missed out on a bronze medal.

I have written about that team and was really looking forward to their energy and what might transpire in Paris. They are a formidable but small group of excellent ballers with great personalities. I have watched a lot of their games, done research and interviewed members of the squad. As much as I care about the results, I really care about the people involved in sports and their stories. 

I have a reputation of being critical of systems in sports and also pride myself on being able to speak about injustices. The reason I do this is because I actually care about sports and about people. As easy as it would be for me to be labelled a feminist killjoy who ruins the sportsball party, I like to think I am, indeed, tremendously fun. 

Every child in sports dreams of being on the Olympic podium. I certainly did. And while I didn't have what it takes to get there athletically, I can appreciate what it took from others. And that's not even counting the barriers for Para sport, women in sport, or athletes in the margins, or on the Refugee Team (EOR).