I’m an Olmypics-aholic.
Every few years, when the Olympics roll around, my enthusiasm for the games inevitably outpaces my husband’s. He’ll pad off, shaking his head, searching for a saner room of the house to retreat to while I attempt to watch every hour of evening Olympic coverage plus as much as I can squeeze in on the weekends and via the Today Show in the mornings.
My first Olympic memory is of Nadia Comaneci. I don’t recall watching her gold medal performance in 1976, though I must have done so. I definitely do recall pretending to be Nadia for months and years afterward. My friends and I would do our little girl version of a floor routine, then puff out our chests and extend our arms upward in the classic gymnast’s pose.
Photo Credit: evilpeacock via Compfight cc
My next Olympic memories stem from the 1984 Olympics in L.A. I remember Carl Lewis and his 4 gold medals. Mary Lou Retton. And how avidly my sports-fan dad followed the coverage.
So far in this current Rio Olympics, I’ve been most inspired by the following…
#1: The excellence of the USA women’s gymnastics team
I stayed up late to watch them compete in the team competition earlier this week. I was blown away by their excellence. And yes, by their ability to perform under extraordinary pressure. But most of all, by their excellence because, wow, excellence is not easy to come by.
“As I counsel with people in our day, many of them young people, I am convinced that one of their biggest problems is that they expect shortcuts.” -Dr. James Boice
It’s obvious that the USA women’s gymnastics team took no shortcuts. They achieved what they did thanks to hard, hard, hard work.
#2: The mom-ness of some of our Olympians
The Olympics are not just the domain of teenagers and twenty-somethings. Kerri Walsh Jennings is 37 and going for gold in beach volleyball for the fourth time. She’s a mother of three for Pete’s sake!
Kristin Armstrong just won her third straight gold at time trial cycling. She’s 43 and the mother of a young son. In this interview she’s quoted as saying:
“I think that for so long we’ve been told that we should be finished at a certain age. And I think that there’s a lot of athletes out there that are actually showing that that’s not true.
“For all the moms out there, I hope that this was a very inspiring day.”
It was for this mom, Kristin.
I’ll close with videos of two of my favorite Olympic moments….
#1: USA speed skater Dan Jansen triumphing over adversity to win gold
Remember how Dan was favored to win medals at his first Olympics, in Calgary in 1988? His sister was dying of leukemia at the time and the day of his first race, he received the news that she’d passed away. During his race, he fell. During his second race, he fell.
In Albertville in 1992 he finished off the medal podium in both races.
At his third Olympics, in Lillehammer in 1994, he finished 8th in his first race. Then, on his second race, the final race of his storied career, victory. Click here to watch the video clip.
#2: British sprinter Derek Redmond limping to the finish line
No explanation’s necessary here because the video will tell the story. Have Kleenex handy.
The Olympics are beautiful to me! The struggle, the dedication, the failures, the victories, the stories.
What’s one of your favorite Olympic moments?
Becky Wade
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Fiji winning Rugby Sevens gold at Rio – first medal by a Pacific island nation ever! (And they’re giving glory to God!!!)
I heard about that this morning! What a fabulous accomplishment for them.
The men’s synchronized diving team and Simone Manuel (who won gold last night) were also quick to use their platform to give glory to God. Awesome!
I love the Olympics. I promise I cry as much as I cheer. It’s too funny how I’ll watch things like archery and fencing, but only during the Olympics. I can’t seem to get enough. I think every time Michael Phelps is set to compete for a medal, I develop stomach pains. His races always have such do or die history behind them. Rivalry or records that need to be accomplished. I probably look like Aly Raisman’s parents squirming as I watch some of these swim meets.
I’m not ordinarily much of a sports fan, Cynthia. But when the Olympics are on I’ll watch it all. We were riveted by Ping Pong the other night. 😉
“I probably look like Aly Raisman’s parents squirming as I watch some of these swim meets.” LOL! If I’m really into it, I jump to my feet. I’ll clap and shout things at the TV like, “C’mon! C’mon!”
My favorite moment of these Olympic Games was when Simone and Aly were on the podium receiving there medals for all around. I cried when they got them especially when Simone stepped on the stand to receive her Gold medal.
I have bags under my eyes this morning because I HAD to tune in until the end of the all around competition. I got teary, too! It was wonderful to watch Simone an Aly live up to their potential.
I am an Olympics-aholic too! My most priced possession during the Olympics is my DVR. I tape everything so if I am short on time, I will not miss my favorite events.
I loved that after winning so many medals, Michael Phelps still gets visibly emotional at the medal ceremonies. I also loved that Simone Manuel became the first African American woman to win an individual swimming gold medal. There are so many great stories.
I agree with you! My DVR is definitely a best friend of mine during the Olympics. By the end, I’ll have hundreds of hours recorded that I’ll never be able to watch. 😉
I too am an Olympic-aholic. I’ve had lots of awesome moments already this year.
If you haven’t seen David Boudia and Steele Johnson giving their after event interview in the men’s synchronized diving you have to go hear it. Amazing. The pool has been brimming with inspirational stories, the gymnasts rule, and Kerri Walsh-Jennings continued domination is awesome.
But I have to say my favorite small moment came in the equestrian team event show jumping. A horse refused a jump and threw his rider, a guy from Brazil, into the fence. It disqualified the rider, but he still took the time to replace all the poles on the fence before leaving the arena. It was a great little moment that showed what the Olympics are supposed to be.
“If you haven’t seen David Boudia and Steele Johnson giving their after event interview in the men’s synchronized diving you have to go hear it.” I did! Their statements ministered to me, big time. They basically said that knowing that their identity was firmly rooted in Christ, not in the results they were or weren’t able to achieve in diving, freed them up to perform at their best.
I hadn’t heard the equestrian story you shared. Love that!
I have two favorite moments thus far in this year’s Olympics. First, the interview with Steele Johnson (part of the U.S. synchronized diving team that won silver). He said that his identity was found in Christ no matter whether he medaled or not. What a great way to give God the glory on this global platform, and keep his perspective on where “true glory” comes from. Also, when Ryan Held (part of the men’s swimming relay) broke down on the podium during the playing of the National Anthem. It was his first time winning and he was extremely emotional. It was touching to see how moved he was by it. I actually went to the Olympic Games when they were held in Atlanta in 1996 and every time they played our National Anthem, I cried as well. The Olympics always create such a patriotic attitude that makes me proud to be an American, and I feel like I’m winning right along with them.
“…when Ryan Held (part of the men’s swimming relay) broke down on the podium during the playing of the National Anthem.” Wasn’t that wonderful? Great moment.
Our Olympians are so proud to compete for America and they do such a good job representing us. They, and the Olympics as a whole, make me proud to be an American, too, Amy.
I’m with you on those late nights, especially gymnastics nights.
My favorite memory was the first time the men’s gymnastics team had real success. I think that was in 1984 in L.A.
Our sons competed in gymnastics as kids and they were so excited as were we. Being gym parents gave us enough knowledge to understand what we were watching and it opened our eyes to a whole new world including what it took for those athletes to get there.
I just love hearing the national anthem, gets me every time. I also love the sportsmanship every time a US athlete takes the time to shake their competitor’s hand a congratulate or offer condolences.
I love the Olympics, too! And I am right there with you inspired by these moms who are still competing! I can barely get my buns off the couch to do yoga. Sheesh!
I have so many favorite Olympic moments. When Kerri Strug landed the vault to win the gold–and her ankle was injured!! The entire winter Olympics lead-up during the Nancy Kerrigan, Tanya Harding feud fascinated me. I loved watching Misty May and Kerri Walsh play beach volleyball. Didn’t one of them lose their wedding ring in the sand–and then found it? I don’t know. It’s all fun to me!
You gave me goose bumps! Yes, when we were kids, I remember playing Olympics. My sister and I, and our neighbor friend, would do somersaults across the bed. Someone would holler out our score. “A perfect 10 … oh, wait, the judges have made a mistake … no, a perfect 9.” Oh, my goodness. I’ve so loved it. My girls get a little tired of it. Karalee said, “If you ask when women’s gymnastics is on one more time …” And I say, “It’s only on once every four years. Come on!”
I’m going to really show my age now! I remember Peggy Flemming when she won the gold in figure skating. And it was pretty mild and tame considering what they do these days. Seems routines get more daring, more dangerous and done in faster times. But I was just a mere pre-teen at that time.
………. And we thought Mark Spitiz was something, now look at Michael Phelps! I was pulling for him, especially since he “cleaned” up his life and straightened up.