We're all just trying to stay in the stadium.
The Olympics has always served a life compass. It all started in Athens 2004, my dad woke us all up at 2am to catch the opening ceremony because there was no replay at the time. He didn’t care that we had classes at 6am. Our entire family of 6 watched a ton of flag bearings, torch lightings, and nations of hopeful athletes in the biggest moment of their lives, with my dad’s VoiceOver explaining how history was happening right before our sleepy eyes.
It’s been 2 decades since and our entire family continues to scream at the TV! My mom still doesn’t have any idea what’s going on. My brothers still refuse to let her in. So the job still goes to me and my sister. My dad, the leader of our pack, is still backseat driving the coaches across the different sports, regardless of timezones, in quiet whispers. Popcorn still not needed.
From training to recovery, hopes and heartbreaks, and missed opportunities-turned-into-steepest stepping stones, we’ve always looked to sports for inspiration as we win and lose in life. So here are 5 of my most favourite sports moments that still play in my head in moments of anxiety.
1. Of course, starting strong with a Filipina at Athens 2004: Antoinette Rivero, Taekwondo.
Being stretchered off at your first ever Olympics is heartbreaking. But what's more heartbreaking is losing a chance at a medal match because you had to fight against the home team. Imagine experiencing all this at 16. It must have been excruciating for the young Toni Rivero and for the entire nation. It was the closest we could get to our first ever Gold medal after boxer Onyok Velasco brought a Silver home in 1996.
Here’s what you need to know, dear reader, this moment pre-dates the automated version of Taekwondo in the Olympics where armours are now sensored for more accurate scoring and to prevent life-threatening injury. Back then, points were based on not just skill but also power. But how do you measure power in a contact sport as a judge away from the mats? Just like boxing, it was through the sound of impact. Tough crowd. Judges had to manually press a button at the same time to earn points. It meant they needed to literally hear the foot clank onto the opponent’s armour (hence, you see the jins shouting as their foot hits opponent's armour to signal power). However, sometimes, the cheers in the arena could mask the sound
…especially when you’re playing against the home team.
While Toni was clearly the better player, she had to succumb to the host nation. Something about having the host nation at the finals is much better entertainment than just some random country.
Entertainment value trumps decades worth of blood, sweat, and tears. Unf******fortunately.
This moment showed me that the world could be brutally unfair and there would be times where there is literally nothing we could do about it but to shrug it off and move on to the next. For as long as we gave our best right?
I see this everyday in the boardroom and NGL (not gonna lie), it still sets me off so, especially on those days, I remember this moment. Because Toni, as she is fondly called by friends and fans, went on to become one of the most successful Taekwondo jins in the region, winning 3 SEA Games Gold, and appearing in 2 Olympics.
2. The U.S.A. Swim Team wins it all for Michael Phelps on the last second in London 2012.
Yes, I know it's cliché but once in a while we do need to be reminded that the power of team is unrivalled.
3. Refugee Olympic Team delegate shocks the world as she defeats 2-time Taekwondo Gold Medalist
The name is Kimia Alizadeh who left her home country Iran for Europe. She was one the millions of women who were oppressed in Iran. And in one of the darkest moments in sporting history, she shone her light, eliminating Jade Jones of Great Britain in the first round.
Exactly the hope the world needed during the one and only Pandemic Olympics, Tokyo 2021.
4. Simone Biles withdraws from Tokyo 2021 after being hailed G.O.A.T. in Rio 2016.
A fuck you to pressure and a fuck yes to self-care. She truly is the G.O.A.T!
5. Usain Bolt proves that names make destinies in Rio 2016...so name your kids wisely.
Kidding aside, Usain Bolt is a global household name at this point after dominating in 3 Olympics (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016). While we mostly saw him win and beat records left and right, he isn't immune to losing. Not only did he lose but he did so in the most disappointing of ways. Shortly after Rio 2016, he had to return his 4x100m gold medal after one of his Beijing 2008 teammates was proven to have doped. Through it all, he kept his head held high and his hopes up because such is life, really.
To quote the wise words of the Jamaican world champion, "Initially (I was) disappointed, of course. But in life, things happen. I'm not sad...I'm just waiting to see what's going to happen".
Source: Canadian Running Magazine
Can't wait to add to this list. Stay tuned for more sports musings as we all witness history right before our sleepy eyes at #Paris2024.
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