Must have been a yeti that grabbed his skis.
Posted on 08/20/2016 2:13:01 PM PDT by Kaslin
The official Olympic medals table doesn’t fully capture participation, which is more reflective of the spirit of the Olympic Games. While it’s natural to celebrate winners, the pathos of losing can be more compelling, and some “losers” who tripped on the way to the podium have exhibited bravery that transcends sports.
The official table is medals won, whether ranked by gold medal count or by total medals. I’ve seen some interesting variations: one that adjusts for population; one that tallies points (3 for gold, 2 for silver and 1 for bronze) then divides by a score on human rights, as compiled by Freedom House; or one that that tallies points but uses GDP as the divisor. Each method reflects different perspectives of success, but they all place a premium on winning.
Ironically, the Olympic Spirit is imbued with the principle that, “[t]he important thing is not to win, but to take part.” Let’s respect that uplifting credo, and consider Olympic success through a different prism: participation. After all, showing up is half the battle in life, and in the Olympic Games some of the most memorable moments were inspired by “losers” who finished despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
There’s the Swiss runner Gabriela Andersen who staggered down the home stretch wobbling more than a drunken sailor finally on shore leave. Gabriela collapsed, but only after crossing the finish line at the end of her miraculous marathon at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. You probably can’t remember who won that race, but she’ll always be remembered for bravely finishing 37th--and for being the ultimate winner.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
I was in the coliseum inn 84 when Anderson staggered across. Amazing the author didn’t say that marathon was won by Joan Benoit, an American.
Just listened to Team USA women baskeyball defeated the women’s team from Spain. Four players and the head coach are from UConn.
Shut up, Noel. EVERY SINGLE OLYMPIC ATHLETE N THE WORLD DISAGREES WITH YOU.
Just shut UP.
I remember seeing that from Switzerland if Iwas not mistaken on tv struggle to finish her race. Had done some research online that L.A.CA is now biding to host the 2024 summer games.
On the other hand. . .watching America kick the world’s ass is fun too!
Yes. And I was walking distance from Archery in 84. Some of my neighbors were volunteer ushers.
Remember the “agony of defeat” clip on the Wide World of Sports?
The guy going off the side of the ski jump?
I did that on the Dope Slope.
My ski instructor suggested I take up chess.
I don't even remember the 1984 Olympics. Where were they even held?
Tsk, tsk, tsk
“The snow or something grabbed his skis”
I hate it when that happens. Nothing worse than grabby snow.
Correction: 5 players from UConn.
Is there something wrong with your tongue, or do you know of an Olympic athlete who's not competing to win?
Or is it just that striving for excellence disgusts you?
Yes in Los Angeles. It is biding to bring the 2024 summer games to that city.The other cities are Budapest,Hamberg,Rome,and Paris.
Something noteworthy happened at these Olympics that has received, in America, no notice.
For the first time in 56 years an American won a medal in one of the sports selected for the original modern Olympics in 1896, and which has continued throughout every Olympiad since.
For decades, it was inconceivable that an American might medal. Probability zero.
Now, finally, an American took the silver in men’s foil, and the news doesn’t even mention it.
Oh, well. Americans generally don’t understand that it is a martial art, and don’t know how difficult and demanding it is.
Fun fact: the fastest object at the Olympics is the marksman’s bullet. The second-fastest object at the Olympics is the tip of the fencer’s weapon.
Must have been a yeti that grabbed his skis.
Summer Olympics with scantily clad infidels. What could possibly go wrong given 8 more years of the invasion?
Los Angeles
With the problems Western Europe has been going through, I see only Budapest and LA being the two best choices.
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