I love the Olympics! I know there are all kinds of reasons to boycott this particular version of the games. The obscene amount of money spent on them and Russia's anti gay laws are the most obvious problems. However, it's happening so I watch and enjoy.
The human interest stories attract me, almost as much as the sports themselves. So far I have not been disappointed. Last week, while having my hair cut, I asked my hairdresser to turn on her tiny little TV, on the counter beside all the hair products. It was an entertaining haircut as I got to watch the men's moguls as she did her best with my hair. What a thrill to see Alexandre Bilodeau repeat his gold medal performance of 2010. While it's exciting to watch that extreme sport, it is his quiet personality, and his relationship with his brother that endears him to many.
Then there's Mark McMorris, who won Canada's first medal of the games in slopestyle. Did you see the interview with Ian Hanomansing, after his win? It was just a short one but I was left with the impression that he is a sweet kid, totally satisfied with a bronze, rather than a gold, and eager to thank his medical team, family and friends for their support.
The Olympics always provide so many heartwarming stories. For me, they trump all the negative aspects of the games. It was really something to watch the cross country race last week when a Russian skier fell in the sprint event. Valiantly, he decided to complete the course, on a broken ski. Once again he fell. I couldn't believe it when he got up and tried to resume the race, this time with his ski in several pieces. Suddenly a Canadian coach ran to him, bringing a ski. He snapped it on and completed the course, to the cheers of Russian fans. It was a scene of determination, kindness and generosity.
What a thrill to see Meghan Agosta's breakaway in the Canadian women's hockey game. She scored two goals on her 27th birthday, in the team's 3-2 win over the U.S.
What about U.S. skater Jeremy Abbott? How dramatic was that? He fell so badly during his program, lay there slumped on the ice and then somehow managed to pick himself up and complete the program! He stood there and smiled this great smile as the crowd went absolutely crazy for him; what a triumph. While he did not make the podium, anyone who witnessed that lesson in "pick yourself up and try it again", will never forget it.
As the games started, I heard a commentator (perhaps it was Clara Hughes?) say something about the great exposure for female athletes. I totally agree. Unfortunately, in non-Olympic seasons, there is simply not as much media coverage on female athletes as for their male counterparts. Much of our winter TV sports attention is focused on the NHL. Even now, I cringe when many fans can only think of men's hockey when they think winter olympics. However, the Olympics really show us just how capable, strong and gutsy women athletes are. The next time a man spouts nonsense about women athletes it would be great to be able to whip out some of theses scenes: the women hockey players, slope style snowboarders, downhill skiers, or bobsledders. It seems pathetic to have to keep on teaching this basic lesson. For parents and teachers, these Olympics provide a great opportunity to inspire girls to pursue athletics and to silence the boys who mistakenly proclaim that women are inferior to men in the field of sports. The other day I heard a commentator talk about a female bobsledder weighing 170 pounds and being strong and muscular. What a great change from the examples of femininity that young girls are so often exposed to.
I can't wait to watch the women's gold medal hockey game on Thursday. Go Canada go!
No comments:
Post a Comment