Olympic Memories

I am a fan of the Olympic movement. The peaceful gathering of athletes from around the globe, to compete in the spirit of sport for its own sake and with no political agenda. To win the gold medal in your sport is so much harder than to win a world championship. World championships are typically earned over the length of a season and are a cumulation of ups and downs. The athlete that wins is one that has been the most consistent over that breadth of the season. Not so with the Olympics. To win gold, you need to be the best in the world, on that one day, at that one defining moment. Overcoming four years of preparation and pressure to be at your very best at that one specific golden moment in time.

Think of the USA Hockey team winning the gold at home in Lake Placid against the best hockey team in the history of history. Of Speed skater Dan Jansen, after 6 years of failure following the death of his sister, putting it all together for that one golden moment. Or Evan Lysacek training his entire life to compete in Mens Figure Skating, going up against the reining Olympic champion and skating the performance of his life to win the gold. That one day, that one 4 minute performance, the culmination of a lifetime of work. Simply magical. I feel blessed to have be able to share these experiences with them.

The Olympics also allows us all to mark the time of our lives by the four year ticking of the Olympic clock. 1976 Montreal, catching bits and pieces of the games while at Boy Scout camp in New Mexico. 1984 Los Angeles, the first games of my married life and the USA Mens gymnastics team winning the gold. 1992 Barcelona, the first games of our new lives living in California and the first with our two boys Nik and Alex with the USA Mens Basketball dream team. 2002 Salt Lake City, the one and only games I’ve ever witnessed in person and with my Dad too. A very special memory. 2004 Athens, The first Olympics since my Mom passed away and our introduction to Michael Phelps. 2010 Vancouver, First winter games since moving my family to Minnesota where winter sports are king and watching local girl Lindsey Vonn ski to gold in the Downhill.

What milestones will the future Olympics bring? Only time will tell. But, it brings me peace knowing that the consistent drum beat of the Olympics will be there to help me mark the way.