August 9, 2012

Canadian midfielder Diana Matheson (wearing No. 8) scored the last-minute goal that gave Canada a stunning 1--0 win over France to seize the Olympic women's soccer bronze medal. (AFP)

The Canadian women's soccer team made history Thursday by winning the country's first team medal at a Summer Games in more than 75 years.

Before Canada claimed bronze with a thrilling 1-0 win over France, the last national team to bring home a Summer Olympic medal was the 1936 men's basketball team, which won silver.

According to a variety of unofficial online sources, including Wikipedia, here are a few facts on those Games and that team:

• There were 23 nations competing in basketball at the Berlin Games — the first time the sport was a medal event. It was also used to experiment with playing the game outside.
• The medals were handed out by none other than James Naismith, the Canadian who invented the sport
• Gold went to the Americans; Canada took silver and Mexico won bronze
• Canada's roster is listed as: Gordon Atchison, Ian Allison, Art Chapman, Chuck Chapman, Edward Dawson, Irving Meretsky, Doug Peden, James Stewart, Malcolm Wiseman and Stanley Nantais
• Art and Chuck Chapman were brothers
• Eight of the team members were from a Windsor, Ont. squad;
• According to the American Holocaust Memorial Museum, Meretsky was one of just 13 Jewish athletes to medal at what became known as the Nazi Olympics
• Canada beat Poland 42-15 to advance to the gold-medal game, which they lost to the Americans, 19-8.

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