Tag Archives: Victory

Passion Week 9: The Greatest Moment of 2012

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Up to this point my passion blog was about finding defining moments of the games that stood out in general, and evaluating their significance. This post is different. This post is about my single most defining moment of these London games. Forget Phelps, Lochte, Bolt, Douglas, Raismann, Wiggins, Ennis, Morgan, Wombach, Richards-Ross, or any of the “heros” of the games. For me, London 2012 was all about one exchange.

After completion of the second semifinal of the men’s 400 meters, two men, who could not have been more opposite of one another, came together to share a moment captured on camera for the world. Kirani James of Grenada approached Oscar Pistorius of South Africa immediately after crossing the finish line to ask Pistorius for his racer’s bib. James wanted it is as a keepsake, displaying his tremendous respect of Pistorius, and the incredible sportsmanship he displays in competition.

I mentioned the two could not have been more opposite. Kirani James had just won the semifinal easily, while Pistorius labored to finish in last place. Yet James was the one asking for memorabilia. Why? I don’t like to assume, but it’s safe in this case to assume that it’s because Oscar Pistorius has no legs. A double-amputee below each knee since before he was a year old, Pistorius broke glass ceilings one-after-another on his way to competing against the able-bodied elite at London. Oscar was a champion before he even started running in London, and Kirani James knew that. Kirani celebrated this by taking Oscar’s bib and holding it high over his head for the world to see the real champion before them; not the man who came in first, the man who came in last.

How else are the two different? James is from Grenada, Pistorius from South Africa. Coming into the 2012 games, Grenada had never won an Olympic medal, of any color. South Africa has enjoyed Olympic success for a century.

The last difference between the two men is perhaps what makes James’ actions so incredible. Oscar Pistorius is 25 years old, but Kirani James is only 20. By the standards of many, James is still just a kid. Just a kid with ability completely unmatched combined with the sportsmanship of a seasoned veteran.

I hardly need to explain how this moment embodies the Olympic spirit because it is so perfect. The combination of James’ victory, Pistorius’ incredible journey just to compete, the unity of two men from completely different worlds, and the sportsmanship associated with this highest level of competition make this moment, for me, the cornerstone of the spirit of the London games.

If you were a keen observer or already knew about this, you would realize this was only a semifinal. The next day, James competed in the finals. It’s the icing on the cake for this story: James won the 400 meters final with ease, winning the first ever medal for his country. The 20-year-old put his island nation on his back, and sent them into euphoria as he ran his way to infamy.

James didn’t celebrate right away, though. He made sure to shake every competitor’s hand first.

Photo Credit:

http://speedendurance.speedenduranceco.netdna-cdn.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kirani-James-Oscar-Pistorius_thumb.jpg

Athlete’s Ages found at:

www.London2012.com/athletes/

Passion Week 6: The Joy and Celebration of Victory

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Many of you last week asked me what the Olympics are all about. To me, there are two main principles of the Olympics.

First, there is the beautiful display of unity, pageantry, and sportsmanship that comes along with the games every two years (Summer AND Winter). This half of the games cherishes the ability of the world to unite and compete. It is not about the winners, the losers, or even the competition. It is about the celebration of the participants; the celebration of the capacity of human ability. It is the celebration of humanity.

Conversely, the second component of the Olympic Games is the competition. It is the unique opportunity to the athletes to prove themselves. The opportunity for them to strive for the goal of champion. Like any competition, the Olympics celebrate victory, and provide the world’s largest stage for its champions to celebrate their victory.

This week’s post is about the latter meaning of the games. Specifically, the joy of victory. There are very few feelings more fulfilling than that of victory, and the joy it brings to a gold medalist can be a beautiful sight. Thus was the case for a champion probably none of you have ever heard of.

Does the name Robert Harting ring a bell? You know, the German discus gold medalist? No? Somehow I’m not surprised. Robert Harting surprised everyone when he took home gold in London, but not himself. Evidently, Harting had a celebration prepared, but the joy of Olympic victory set in, and his emotions took over.

Here’s how it happened. Harting, realizing his victory, sprints across the track to find a German flag in the stands. He grabs, throws it aside, and proceeds into his patented celebration: tearing his shirt in half, letting out a scream only a 6’6″, 280 pound man can produce. He then grabs the flag again and begins to take a lap around the track with the German colors as his cape.

The only problem: on the backstretch, the track is set up for the Women’s 110-meter hurdles. He’s far from a sprinter, and even further from a hurdles runner. He’s about to go from exaltation to public humiliation.

But this is the Olympics, Harting just won gold; no three-and-a-half-foot structure is going to get into his way. It’s him vs. ten hurdles in 100 meters; with the crowd, the adrenaline, and joy of victory at his back. No problem.

To me, it’s moments like this that are what make the Olympics so special.

If you want to see the whole fiasco, a good video is here. Special thanks to CTVOlympics for helping me describe the scene:

Photo Credit:

http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2012/08/07/Discus-gold-medalists-hilarious-celebration-GF2192I5-x-large.jpg

Video Citation:

CTVOlympics. “Discus: Best Celebration Ever.” YouTube. August 9, 2012. Web. October 18, 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9VtVXPksAM>