I *Heart* the USA

Man, oh man.  I'm such and Olympics junkie.  I just love to watch all the sports, winter and summer.  I love to hear the "backstories".  I love it all.

I think part of it is just seeing these kids (and sometimes older people, GO DARA TORRES!) get to that top level.  They train and train and have these hopes and dreams and just to make it there is wonderful.  And when they win and they cry and just can't believe it.  It makes me so proud of them!  Even though I don't know them. 

And to see all these countries come together in one place, even though they don't "get along" is amazing.  The patriotism and the pride are just cool to watch.  Every time they have a medal ceremony I tear up.  Whether it's the Star Spangled Banner playing or some other national anthem.  I just love it all.

But, the best part is the backstories.  Like the story of the little boy that walked in with the Chinese team.  He was buried under rubble in the earthquake, yet went back in to try to save his classmates.  To see that little child next to Yao Ming was really moving.  Or the story of the now German gymnast (who's 33!) and he son with leukemia.  She lived in Russia and their were no facilities to treat him.  So, she reached out to people she knew in the gymnastics community and they sent her to Germany where her son received treatment and is now in remission.  Those are the stories that just touch my heart.  That in spite of all the struggles these people have, they keep pushing on and never lose hope or lose track of their dreams.  We could all learn a little something from them.

So, enjoy the rest of the games, it'll be awhile before we see them again!

Comments

[Laura]

OMG! I could have written this post word for word! I am giddy with excitement over the Olympics and watch nearly every minute of prime time coverage. And yes, the backstories are the best! So inspiring. I love it how the world comes together for these games too. I just love it all!

[holly]

actually, the olympics is the one thing i am looking forward to being on my tele.

i still may forget to go in that room and *watch* (i so love that the tv has its own room that i am not often in), but hey, you just never know...

[Quart]

I couldn't agree more! What got me about the little kid who walked with Yao was the the reason he went back in to save kids was because he was the hall monitor. How sweet is that?

I'm exhausted from staying up to watch everything but it's totally worth it. I can handle the lack of sleep once every four years! Or, um, every two years, I guess. I'm a winter olympics junkie too.

U-S-A!!

[Musing]

I'm an Olympics whore, too. Have been ever since I was little, when I used to pretend to be Olga Korbut on the wide footboard "balance beam" of my parents' bed.

[Absurdly Yours]

I love having insomnia during the olympics because I always have something to watch in the middle of the night. The backstories are so inspiring. Great post!

[Mike from the Newborn Identity]

I so wanted the Israeli swimmer kid whose dad died the night before his event to win a medal. His sister was rooting him on in the stands...being his family what with Dad deceased and Mom dealing with funeral stuff. He didn't medal, but had his best time ever. Anyway...it was a dramatic...hope he and his sis found the Olympics a good experience despite the tragedy

[Mary Ann]

I love the Olympics too. I must admit the back stories are one of my favorite aspects of the Olympics too. I am always sad when the Olympics are over!