Canada on record pace

Canada ticked several boxes while setting a torrid pace in the first half of the Rio Olympics.

A medal on Day 1, a team medal on Day 3 and the first gold medal on Day 6 meant quick, if not instant, gratification for Canadians watching at home.

Canada arrived at the halfway mark of the Games Saturday night with 12 medals — two gold, two silver and eight bronze — for the strongest start ever at a non-boycotted Summer Games.

The previous high after eight days was 11 in 1928 and 1992. At least one medal per day for eight straight was Canada's longest streak at a Summer Games.

It took until Day 8 for Canada to win a medal in Beijing in 2008. At the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, the first seven days produced one bronze en route to a total of 12.

Chef de mission Curt Harnett predicted a Canadian team in "beast mode" prior to the opening ceremonies in Rio.

The women certainly were as they produced the dozen medals.

Toronto swimmer Penny Oleksiak either won, or had a hand in, a third of them as she collected gold, silver and a pair of relay bronze in the pool.

The 16-year-old generated Canada's first gold medal when she won the 100-metre freestyle Thursday. Trampolinist Rosie MacLennan of King City, Ont., defended her gold medal a day later.

The women's rugby sevens team won bronze in the sport's Olympic debut.

"I think we have an incredible group of women down here and I hope it inspires a new generation of female athletes and encourages women to stay in sport," MacLennan said. "I couldn't be more proud of the rugby girls and Penny. It's definitely been inspirational to watch them and definitely motivating."

Prior to the Games, Own The Podium projected that Canadian women had a higher percentage of medal chances than the men, not just over the first eight days of official competition, but for the entire 16.

"We're very pleased with the first week," OTP chief executive officer Anne Merklinger said. "We've never won medals on every day of the Olympic Games."

Canada had 10 medals at the half in London four years ago before cooling off for a total of 18. MacLennan won the country's lone gold in 2012.

The stated goal is a top-12 finish among countries in total medals. Canada was ranked 11th on Sunday morning.

The country is on pace to crack the 20-medal barrier for just the second time at a non-boycotted Summer Games after 22 in 1996.

"I can't predict the future," Harnett said in an interview. "What I can say is I feel really, really good about the spirit and the attitude in the village."

A women's freestyle relay bronze on the first day of competition got the medal train started not just for the swim team — which finished with a breakout six medals — but for the entire Canadian team.

Harnett, however, pointed to the women's soccer team's 2-0 win over Australia two days before the opening ceremonies as the Canada's catalyst in Rio.

"Got to give the women's soccer team some credit for, I believe, setting the stage," Harnett said. "Momentum is an amazing thing."

There were also heartbreaks and disappointments over the first eight days. Once a world rowing powerhouse, Canada produced a single medal.

After opening with a 5-under 66, Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., fell out of medal contention in men's golf, shooting a 3-over 74 in Saturday's the third round.

Santo Condorelli of Kenora, Ont., was the leader at the turn in the men's 100-metre freestyle, but missed the podium by three hundredths of a second.

Jennifer Abel of Laval, Que., botched her final dive en route to a fourth-place finish with Pamela Ware in synchronized springboard.

Heading into the back half, Canada has multiple medal prospects in track and field, plus more podium chances in canoe and kayak, women's mountain biking, boxing and wrestling.

The women's soccer team is looking for a repeat podium after the bronze in London. They face Germany in Tuesday's semifinal.

#Rio2016 Day 8 saw a couple of medals and some notable performances on #TeamCanada. More: https://t.co/4j3c21Z1oa pic.twitter.com/OvZFQ2ENyk

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) August 14, 2016