Summer Olympics 2008

Before the experience of the Olympics is lost forever in my memory and history, I want to say a few words. I always look forward to the Olympics, especially the summer ones, though figure skating is by far my favorite event and that keeps me happy in-between. Nevertheless, there are a greater number of interesting events in the summer games.
For the past two Olympics it was the gymnasts that held my attention and even after Nadia, the drama of the Romanians was very real. I remember eight years ago during the games, we were taken, via television to almost prehistoric Romania and a tiny, primitive church where babushka grandmothers were seen praying for their gymnasts. I was moved to tears…not so much by the thought of winning the gold as by the primitiveness of these women so removed from the modern world. Their lives looked austere, unchanged in the villages of Romania. Fortunately, they did win the gold, perhaps all those candlelit, church prayers did the trick; certainly combined, I think, with the impetus of these young women who saw the chance not to go back to that same world we glimpsed at in Romania.
This year the whole idea of the Olympics looked different to me. Of course as the world grows smaller and countries like China challenge the world with their new found economy the games are more political. I still want to believe that the athletes are naïve and free of politics, challenging only the perfection of their bodies in their chosen skill. But if truth be told, how can countries snatching three and four year olds away from their families to be trained by experts possibly compare with a family that gives up so much personally for their child’s training in a given sport and a chance to fulfill a dream? Even though our country offers endorsements, it is different than the fear of failure I saw on the faces of the Chinese athletes.
I was very disappointed in the runners. More interested in outrunning their teammates than disciplining themselves to pass off the baton correctly in the relay races…where were their coaches!
This year it was the swimming that held my attention. Not so much for the gold medals themselves, but for the individual stories. The oldest woman swimmer, the last swimmer to win the race in the relays…it was so exciting! Of course I was caught up with Michael Phelps, but more because of his story and his mother. She was a single mother with no male figure for her son so she went out and found him a mentor. Interestingly enough, people only have to succeed at one thing to achieve self-esteem. For Michael Phelps, it was swimming and that led him to believe in himself, fine hone his skills and achieve greatness. He did the work, he won the prize. What a thrill for his mother to see and a good portion of that achievement is due to her diligence in finding support for him.
What a story, as important for the mother as for the child. With so many women raising children on their own, I hope they too will take the measures needed to bring the proper role models into their children’s lives and also observe their children closely to find where they might excel and in so doing find self esteem.
Lesson: Once you are good at one thing you are more likely to take the next risk and life is about risking!