the olympic spirit and us

I am *really* not a person that watches sports on TV. I can work up a bit of enthusiasm for an occasional trip to the local ballpark for a major league game because I like the experience of the crowd and rooting for the home team, but overall sports really aren't my "thing". That changes every couple of years when the Olympics come around and I find myself glued to the TV set (which I barely turn on otherwise) for two weeks.

During the Olympics, in an interview with an Australian swimming star, they asked about all the attention she got in her country. She talked about how proud it made her that young children knew who she was and looked up to her. She looked right into the camera and said, (this is my paraphrase) "I am not special in my abilities. The only thing that makes me different from anyone else is that I showed up. I gave up some of the fun stuff in school because I had to be in bed early for an early morning practice. I was willing to make sacrifices in the short term for a chance at something bigger. Anyone can do this. It doesn't take any special talent or skill other than having tenacity and a willingness to work when other people don't."

That is what is special about the Olympics for me. You are watching a few hundred athletes who make it to the finals in their sport trying to be the best in the world at what they do. Although some of the things they do take special skills or attributes - for example it helps to be over six feet tall if you are a basketball player (however, several of the women on the US and Australian teams that played for Gold and Silver were in the 5'4 - 5'8 range!) - most of the people that go to the Olympics do so because they set their mind to a goal and did not let anything stop them. It is the ultimate reality TV.

There are so many stories about people who were committed to being the best. This afternoon I watched a wrestler who did not make the team for Atlanta four years ago. He went out and had the Olympic rings tattooed on his bicep as a reminder to himself of his commitment. Imagine what he would have felt like if he did not make the team this year? A tattoo is a big commitment! He put himself out there for the world to see saying, "I will do this."

Another compelling story is that of Marion Jones. She announced her "drive for five" (gold medals) two years ago. This week, after winning two Gold, she got a bronze in the long jump. Her "drive for five" was over but she still had two events left. She can still get four Gold medals at this Olympics. Is she any less an athlete for having announced her intention? I don't think so. I can't imagine anyone thinking less of her because she gave her best trying to get five gold medals and only came home with five medals of varying color.

By contrast was the story of the swimmer who had never swum the length of an Olympic pool in his life. He was in the race because of a wild card drawing to get participants from smaller countries into the finals. In an odd quirk of fate, the two other swimmers in his race both were disqualified for false starts. As a result, he swam the length of the pool, and then back, by himself in a packed auditorium that had seen dozens of Olympic and World records set. His time was roughly twice that of the qualifiers in the semi-final. He nearly did not finish the lap as he was so tired he could barely make it.

The crowd, who at first laughed at his horrible technique and slow speed, began to cheer him on as he swam back towards start. Every person in the auditorium knew that they were watching something they didn't quite understand, but recognized the courage and integrity of that swimmer. Think about it. Would you have had the courage to do that by yourself in that huge auditorium? Would you have given up when the other swimmers were disqualified or when you could barely keep your head above water on the way back? Is that man's story any less thrilling than those of the men and women who stood on the podium?

It is easy to forget as you watch the Olympics on TV that there are over 15,000 people competing there. Many never get past the first round of competition but just getting to the Olympics makes them a star. Most of them will never be seen on Television. Some will not medal but will go home a hero for setting a record for their country. Of the 15,000 people who made the 199 teams representing countries around the world, think how many tried and did not make it that far. Just getting to the Olympics is a huge accomplishment.

In watching the drama of the Olympics unfold, I could not help but compare it to the things I write about in Tera's Wish. After all, getting to the Olympics is just a goal - just like our goals about our art. So what sets those 15,000 athletes apart from the thousands that did not make the cut? The same thing that distinguishes the artists that make it from those who do not: tenacity, a clear goal, and a willingness to work even if you don't know how the story will end.

So that takes me to advice given by Olympic superstar Michael Johnson. When asked to give advice to future Olympians, he said simply "work hard and keep at it." I couldn't have said it better myself.

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