"This is way more nerve-wracking than any gold-medal ceremony."
"I wouldn't know!"
Jenn Salling got that reaction out of host Gerry Dee, plus a raucous laughter from the audience, during a celebrity episode of Family Feud Canada.
But the nerves faded and the competitiveness kicked, which led in a $10,000 victory for charity after her team correctly guessed what the surveys said on the popular game show — broadcast Thursday night (Jan. 6) on CBC and CBC Gem.
The Port Coquitlam softball bronze medallist from Tokyo 2020 said she had a blast playing on a national stage once again prior to the show's taping in Toronto.
Salling was called on by former Canadian hurdler Perdita Felicien to represent an all-Olympian squad for Family Feud, which also included track-and-field athlete Angela Whyte, long-jumper Tabia Charles-Collins and rugby sevens player Pamphinette Buisa.
The money is earmarked for The Denise House — an emergency support shelter for abused women and children, in which Felicien explained she, her sister and her mother lived there at one point while growing up.
The Ontario non-profit, according to its website, "strives to provide integrated, anti-racist, anti-oppression services to empower the diversity of all women to choose their own future."
"The Denise House further exists to educate the public at large about issues resulting from abuse, oppression and discrimination of women and their children."
Salling played at the podium in the third round for double-points.
Her team was up against members of the Canadian national women's hockey team: Natalie Spooner, Marie Philip-Poulin, Sarah Nurse, Blayre Turnbull and Laura Stacey.
Though the 34-year-old wasn't selected to represent her team in the $10,000-fast money round, Salling guessed two correct answers out of three questions that came her way, including one of the surveys' top responses.
Let's recap:
QUESTION ONE
- Fill in the blank: Most people fail a lie-detector test when asked if they've ever stolen someone's ______.
Salling's answer: Driver's licence... Not on the board. ❌
The hockey players stole the points from this round for a 23-0 lead. During the game, Salling gave a shoutout to her family and had nice banter with Dee about thanking parents who influenced their kids to get into sports.
QUESTION TWO
- If you hired a basketball player to redecorate your house, name something you would see in the design.
Salling's answer: Retired NBA jerseys... On the board (sixth most popular answer). ✅
The Olympians ultimately won the opening round to take a 61-23 lead at the commercial break.
QUESTION THREE
- [Double points] Name something everyone has a favourite of.
Salling's answer: Food... On the board (Top answer) ✅
Salling stole the right to play after Nurse buzzed in first, but didn't get the most popular response. By the end of the round, the hockey players stole the game for a 133-61 lead.
QUESTION FOUR
- [Triple points] Name something that's much more exciting when it's new.
Salling didn't get a chance to respond as her team was able to correctly guess every response to this survey and advance to the fast money round on a final score of 301-133.
Felicien anchored the two-member final round of the game show with Charles-Collins and claimed the $10,000 after reaching a combined 200 points.
