I will admit it, I love the Olympics. I’m swept away by the youth, energy, sacrifice, commitment, honour and impossible odds that go with amateur athletic competition at the elite level.
Consider that most of those competitors, even the gold medal winners, will go back home and be all but forgotten in a matter of weeks or months… What’s the name of that terrific Judoka? They have deferred their careers, many their education, most their social life and home life, just to see how good they can become… whether they can be among the best, or maybe be the best. It’s humbling to learn about their work ethic and their commitment, their struggle to get enough money to live, have an able coach, eat properly, and access the right equipment.
For two weeks there was a story every day that took my breath away. The wins and medals were great (even all the bronzes), but it was the personal stories that impacted us, right? Ms. Sinclair’s hat-trick, Carol Huynh’s incredible hometown support, Simon Whitfield post-crash cheering and tweeting, the medals in canoeing and kayaking – and the Amazing Adam van Koeverden who just keeps wracking up the medals in his lonely and grueling sport. It could be a very long list of names and stories.
So now, I’m fully into Olympic withdrawal. There is nothing on television, if I miss reading the paper in the morning, it can wait. I am not getting Star Alerts on my phone three or four times a day with good news.
The Spice Girls have reunited, the fireworks are over and Londoners can go back to being damp and grumpy, but for a while yet I’m going to remember that remarkable team so proudly representing Canada and feel very grateful.
I will admit it; I love the Olympics. I’m swept away by the youth, energy, sacrifice, commitment, honour, and the impossible odds that go with amateur athletic competition at the elite level.
Consider that most of those competitors, even the gold medal winners, will go back home and be all but forgotten in a matter of weeks or months… What’s the name of that terrific Judoka? They have deferred their careers, many their education, most their social life and home life, just to see how good they can become. Whether they can be among the best, or maybe be the best. It’s humbling to learn about their work ethic and their commitment, their struggle to get enough money to live, have an able coach, eat properly and access the right equipment.
For two weeks there was a story every day that took my breath away. The wins and medals were great (even all the bronzes) but it was the personal stories that impacted us, right? Ms. Sinclair’s hat-trick, Carol Huynh’s incredible hometown support, Simon Whitfield post-crash cheering and tweeting, the medals in canoeing and kayaking – and the amazing Adam van Koeverden who just keeps wracking up the medals! The list could go on and on…
So now, I’m fully suffering from Olympic withdrawal. There is nothing on television; if I miss reading the paper in the morning, it can wait. I am no longer getting Star Alerts on my phone three or four times a day with good news. The Spice Girls have reunited; the fireworks are over; and Londoners can now go back to being damp and grumpy; but for a while yet I’m going to remember and feel very grateful for that remarkable team that so proudly represented Canada.
Amit says: