If you know me, you know I love sports! I love to play sports and I love to watch sports! So, when the Olympics roll around, summer or winter, I am addicted! I love watching athletes that have worked as hard as they have to be the best at what they do. I wish I could give that dedication to a sport and see it realized in the Olympics. Alas, I think my opportunity has passed, but the inspiration these kids (some not kids at all) give to us all is amazing. At a time when the world can’t get along, our nation is divided by two struggling parties and people overall just don’t seem to be acting in a way we would be proud of, the Olympics are there to show us something completely different.
I have been moved by Abbey D’Agostino and Nikki Hamblin, the runners that fell over each other and then helped each other up and encouraged the other to finish-this is the biggest race of their lives! Watching Bolt and De Grasse laugh together as they crossed the line in the semi-finals and seeing most everyone showing sportsmanship and respect to their fellow athletes as they win or lose! I just love this and wish we could carry this spirit with us throughout the year! These people are competing for all they know and for all they have worked so hard for, yet they can see the bigger picture.
Some of my favorite stories have been the success of the American girl’s gymnastics team, the Final Five! Watching Michael Phelps come back and win his 23rd medal, while feeling much more like a team member, watching Usain Bolt entertain the crowd while winning gold in the 100 and 200 for the third straight Olympics, and finally watching Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross lose against the Brazilians (I didn’t love that), only to come back and fight like crazy and with pride to win the bronze the next day. So many life lessons in all of these stories! My kids are tired of hearing me drone on about all there is to learn here!
And then there is Ashleigh Johnson, the girl’s water polo goalie who is a graduate of Ransom Everglades School, where my children go. She is competing for the gold medal with her team today. She is the only African American on the team and the only girl that, not only did not grow up in California, but does not play for a California school, she plays for Princeton. She grew up in the Redlands, not the hotbed of waterpolo! With hard work and determination she has become what many are saying is the best goalie in the world! How cool is that! What a lesson to my privileged children.
So as the Olympics come to an end, I am saddened to have to wait two more years to stay up too late and cheer like crazy, but hopeful that we will remember all the good that these amazing athletes have shown! I recognize how sappy this all sounds, but I really do believe we can take a lesson and try to be the achievers and good sports we have seen from so many of these Olympians. These Olympics came at the perfect time and have changed our headlines for a couple of weeks! Thank you to all of the athletes that have completely entertained the world with your positive and uplifting stories and athleticism!!
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