Sometimes things don't always turn out the way you plan. Today I planned to go rock climbing but it didn't work out because of things beyond my control. So, like a good little Stoic, I made the best of the situation and found a silver lining: if I were at the gym right now I wouldn't be enjoying the Winter Olympics!
Ever since I can remember, the Olympics have been to me and my family what the Super Bowl is to American football fanatics. In other words, it's a big deal! I love how the Olympics is an international event. We come together to watch a showcase of the world's best athletes…and that's what I enjoy seeing: the beautiful talent of the very best. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud to be an American, but in the Olympics I cheer for whomever is the best because they deserve to win.
I also love getting to see athletes represent their native or ancestral countries. Seamus O'Connor, from California, has Irish grandparents and represented Ireland on the Men's Halfpipe. It's good to be proud of where you're from, but it's also nice to be proud of where your family is from…I have a decent amount of Norwegian blood on my mom's side, so when I saw Simen Hegstad Krueger go from a crash to a gold, I couldn't hold back the tears. Watching his triumph made me proud to be part Norwegian.
Krueger taking the gold, from this Business Insider article: http://www.businessinsider.com/norway-simen-krueger-skiathlon-gold-2018-2
Figure skating has always been my favorite Winter Olympic sport; it's magically mesmerizing. Now, I'm no expert but I have been watching this since I was around four years old. I went through a long phase where I watched Disney's Aladdin on Ice, staring Kurt Browning and Kristi Yamaguchi, every weekend at my Dad's.
Tonight, in the Team - Women's Free Skate, I was blown away by the US and Russian skaters. Maria Nagasu's (USA) record breaking triple axel was inspiring, and Alina Zagitova's (RUS) high difficulty free skate was motivating. She purposely choreographed her skate so that her most difficult elements (the jumps) would be done in the second half of her skate, which is when they're not only more difficult to execute but you also get an extra 10% for doing them in the second half. She got first place, of course, and this put her in second place of all time for that event.
Photo of Nagasu's ecstasy sourced from this Chicago Tribune article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/international/ct-olympics-mirai-nagasu-triple-axel-figure-skating-20180211-story.html
Alina was going for gold and it was awe-inspiring to watch. While her first place free skate in the Team - Women's Free Skate only got the Russians to second place behind the Canadians (who were also a pleasure to watch), I look forward to watching Alina in the Ladies competition. My money is on her for the gold.
Alina's Team - Women's Free Skate, published by http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/15-year-zagitova-proves-chase-olympic-gold-53011229
While I'm still a little bummed I didn't get to climb today, I'm glad I got to be amazed and moved by these talented athletes.
What are your favorite Olympic sports, athletes, traditions?
