Olympic Fever

Just in time to save us all from the exhaustion of all the political news, the Olympics have taken over our screens and imaginations for a magical few weeks, a welcome palate cleanser after the heavy doses of sheer intensity of the American presidential race.  More on that later, to be sure, but let’s revel in the wonders of human endurance, physical prowess and sheer artistry of these remarkable women and men, superior athletes and sources of inspiration for millions.

I am old enough now to be able to watch the Olympics without saying to myself with a good deal of chutzpah, “Oh, I could do that” as if I ever could even think about even walking across a balance beam.  Yes, in my younger days (much younger) the Olympics were a challenge and inspiration — if only I could train more, exercise every day, hit the fitness equipment and pool routinely, I, too, could …. well, at least I could dream about it.  Age gives us the patience and humility to appreciate what others can achieve in athletics, the gifted few whose hard work, resilience, willingness to sacrifice so much else in their lives to excel on the playing fields makes them Olympians, champions and icons for the rest of us to cheer.

The Olympics give us a chance to see sports heroes in a different light.  Watching the opening ceremony — boatloads of Olympians cruising up the River Seine in Paris during a summer downpour, something so poetic about the whole scene — I loved seeing U.S. Flagbearers LeBron James and Coco Gauff in white jackets holding up the American Flag on a boat with 500 other American athletes.  How often has King James rubbed elbows with not only other GOATS (Simone Biles, Steph Curry, Katy Ledecky) but the less well known yet equally accomplished pole vaulters and fencers and equestrians and divers and synchronized swimmers and so many other athletes who rose to the top of their games to earn places in the Olympics this year?  I loved seeing a television interview with basketball great Steph Curry going on and on about how excited he is to be at these games.  Something about the Olympics seems to equalize all of the top athletes while raising them up far above us lesser mortals who just try to straighten out our stiff joints as we stand up each morning.  Hooray for all the athletes who can roll and tumble and lift weights and score 3-pointers and run around on a sandy beach volleyball court looking fierce and fit!

Simone Biles is on everyone’s mind right now — she excelled in the first round of the gymnastic competition even while apparently nursing an injured calf.  Simone is such an amazing role model for generations of girls and women.  She could have retired after Tokyo in 2020 when she had to withdraw, admitting to “the twisties” as a condition affecting her confidence and ability to perform at the top of her game.  For an elite athlete to talk about her mental health crisis to the whole world was a remarkable moment, and one that helped to educate so many people about the importance of speaking out.  But she didn’t retire, she worked her way back with grit and determination, and she is showing that resilience and fortitude today as she competes at the highest level on the world state despite a nagging calf strain.  Playing through pain — it is what champions do to reach the medal podium.

So many more heroes and stories to see, the games will go on for the next three weeks.  Let’s cheer for our teams — whatever your country, whoever you like, cheer for them!! — and enjoy this brief moment when the world seems to come together to enjoy something other than political machinations.  We’ll have plenty of time for that this fall, but maybe the Olympics can bring us the sense of unity we crave.

PS — thanks to Paris for hosting — that was quite an opening ceremony!!