I've been watching the Olympics a lot this week. Actually much more than I thought I would. I usually don't get too worked up about the winter sports but I am really enjoying them this year for some reason. As much as I've enjoyed watching elite athletes competing in amazing sports (downhillers are nuts!), I've been pretty disappointed in a lot of the commentary and the focus on who won what medal by the US media.
The worst point was last year when figure skater Michelle Kwan was being interviewed by a reporter after her event. "Michelle, how do you feel now that you've lost the gold medal?". I couldn't believe my ears. Michelle replied "I didn't lose the gold, I won the silver.". Yeah - you go girl!
I had the good fortune to be present at the winter Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994. Not as an athlete mind you - I'm nowhere even close to that caliber. I was smoking a pack a day at that point and pretty much a slug. I was there for work setting up the communications networks that were used at the all the sporting venues and the towns that were hosting them. This gave me complete access to all venues at all times. It was awesome. When I wasn't working I was watching any event I could get into. A truly amazing experience.
One thing that really impressed me was the attitude that the Norwegians had for the athletes. They cheered for everyone. But the people they cheered on the most (aside from the Norwegians) were those that had just achieved a personal best. Whenever it was announced at any venue or for any sport that an athlete had just achieved a person best the crowd response was enormous. I was floored when I first experienced it. I was shocked. What are they cheering for that guy for? He's in like 8th place - what's the big deal? The big deal was lost on me at the time. In the evening the medals were recapped, but so were all the athletes who had a personal best for there sport. In the end it gave me an immense respect for the Norwegian people and media. This is what it should really be about. This is where the focus should be.
Many of the athletes who compete in the Olympics are very much like age groupers competing in a Triathlon. They've got very little chance to win the medal. Instead they strive to accomplish their very best effort in celebration of their sport. Me, I'm going to cheer for all the athletes who strive for and obtain their personal best.
Medals are nice, but the self satisfaction achieved by obtaining your personal best is the real reward we get from our efforts.
2 comments:
Everybody keeps talking about the bad commentary for the olympics but I never noticed it... maybe I've never heard good commentary? Oh dear, now you've got me wondering.
Actually I have to backpedal a little on this post. Much to my surprise today I heard two commentators chatting about how some of the athletes were celebrating back at the athlete's village for achieving personal bests. They acknowledged that that was what it's really all about (much to my surprise). Of course, they blew it by moaning about a missed metal by some favorite in some sport. I switched over to the weather at that point.
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