I've been hooked on the Olympic Trials. These competitions determine our Olympic team in gymnastics, swimming, track and field, and many other sports. The competition is intense, as fractions of a second determine who goes to London, and who watches at home. I admire these athletes. Many have devoted most of their young lives to training for a chance to represent our country. Most are disappointed, but from what I've been told, would do it all again.
One of the most heartbreaking things that can happen to an athlete is to suffer an injury just prior to the Olympics. This happens often, especially in gymnastics. Young athletes train for years, thousands of hours, and a slip on the balance beam could dash their hopes. Getting to the Olympics is winning. It's like being nominated for an Oscar. Just the nomination puts you in an elite class. So too for our athletes. We forget that the rest of the world is training just as hard as we are to be winners on the world stage. The Olympics is the ultimate test of strength, courage, and determination.
Our American team is just about set, and London is just a few weeks away. (July 27). I can't wait. Unfortunately due to the time change most of the events will be in the middle of the night. We'll probably be watching it all on tape anyway. I remember back in 1984 when our family took an apartment in London for a few weeks, to escape the crowds in Los Angeles during the 1984 Olympics. We watched the Olympics in the middle of the night then, and I guess if there is any live coverage, we'll watch in the middle of the night again. In any event, it should be a spectacular show.
I've included a flag in this blog. Take a look and see how many of these country flags you recognize. Many of them will be represented in London. I hope to see the stars and stripes on top many times in the next few weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment