Gold

The 2020/2021 Olympic Games are officially coming to a close. Tears, cheers, and long-distance support made for nail-biting entertainment. I am always amazed at the sheer determination and laser beam focus the athletes possess. My husband shared that when he was a kid he often wondered what sport he might one day be able to participant in at the Olympics. I am sorry that such aspirations never worked out for him. My background as a total sports misfit kept me from wondering such things. Unless couch potato becomes a sanctioned activity, my dreams will always be dashed. My Olympics interactions will always be from afar. Here are a few sports I watched over the past couple of weeks.

1) Synchronized swimming--Good gracious, who thought that was a good idea? It is a beautiful sport to watch but I cannot extract myself from the process. Submerging oneself vertically upside down in a pool of water looks impossible on its own. Add to that the challenge of choreographed precise leg and arm movements set to music. Then, make sure your movements mirror your partner's moves. And, do it all with a smile. I would give all the participants a solid ten immediately after they dive into the water. Gold medals for all.

2) Marathon 10K swimming--As one who failed ninety percent of all swimming classes, I cannot imagine being in the water for almost two hours, swimming non-stop. I was fascinated with the "feeding station" for the swimmers. Long poles are extended with bottles of fluids perched on the ends of the poles. The swimmers grab a bottle as they swing by and chug a few gulps before tossing the bottle in the water and continuing onward. I felt the swimming and drinking movement was an incredible skill unto itself. Gold medals to all of them for staying hydrated while swimming.

3) Skateboarding--This sport is one of the recently sanctioned events for the Olympics. I think the only prop missing on the skateboarding course was the sign that says, "NO Skateboarding on the premises." The course had stairsteps with railing for the athletes to show off their rail-riding skills. The stairsteps provided more obstacles for flying through the air. There were several ramps involved so momentum could be built up for the runs. Not surprisingly, the average age for the skaters was young, very young. A thirteen-year-old won a bronze medal in the women's competition. I wanted to issue a gold medal for any participant who wore full armor. Of course, there were none, but skateboarding is a sport for those with rubber skeletons.

4) Beach Volleyball--Summer Olympics is known for this sport. I am sure it has nothing to do with the "uniforms" for the women. That being said, it is quite the challenge playing on the shifting surface of sand. My high school experience with volleyball in gym class did a good job of reminding me that this would not be my sport either. Gold medals to those who really know what they are doing. And in the sand, no less.

I confess that I often miss the Olympics when the pomp and circumstance is finally over. But, it won't be long until the winter Olympics are here. Until then, gold medals to all those who show up for jobs, day in and day out, without the hope of fancy hardware or major endorsements. Heroes are everywhere. Don't forget to thank them.