A Cup of Catherine

Why I Unabashedly Love The Olympics

by

I am so excited because the opening ceremonies for the Olympics are tomorrow night! Ever since I was a child (an 8-year-old, specifically), I have been the BIGGEST fan/viewer of the games—mostly the gymnastics, diving, and swimming.

olympic rings

I still remember the 1992 Olympics and how I watched my VHS (I’m old, ok?) recordings over and over and over. I had basically memorized the choreography from the compulsory round (again, let’s give away my age—they don’t even do compulsory routines anymore!) and can still tell you details of who won.

I imagined that one-day I would compete on that stage—never mind that I didn’t have the talent or the drive to get that far. But, I was a kid, and kids dream big and believe anything.

One of my favorite memories was being able to travel with one of my best friends and our moms to Atlanta in 1996. We played tourist around the city and attended the “podium training” where we watched (and met) gymnasts from all over the world—ones who’d never make the cut for primetime TV.

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Awkward throwback picture of me and Dominique Dawes (she visited a local gym a couple years after the 1996 Olympics)

And of course I remember Keri Strug’s epic vault and how the US women won their first-ever gold medal.

I still get chills!

So, 2 decades (ouch!) later, as a 32-year old, I still look forward to the Olympic Games. And, truthfully, it’s because the Olympics represent so much to me. They represent peace, idealism, unity, and the human spirit. They represent the absolute BEST of humanity, and I’ve (embarrassingly) been known to shed a few tears whenever I watch the opening ceremonies.

The Olympics have taught me so much.

Going back to 1992, they taught me history. They taught me about the fall of the USSR and why it was significant for a team of young women to compete under the Olympic flag—and later their own country’s flags—instead of the Soviet one.

They taught me—at age 12—that our world was sadly becoming scarier. I remember sitting in the comfort of my own home and learning about the bombing at Centennial Olympic Park, reminiscing our own visit just a few weeks before.

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Terrible grainy picture of the Magnificant Seven – I’m so bummed I couldn’t locate more pictures from our Atlanta trip!

They taught me about beauty and grace and sacrifice and privilege. That for some people—mostly those outside of the US—sport is not simply a hobby but a life commitment that will ultimately provide their family with a home if they bring home medals.

They taught me that people of all faiths, ethnicities, and cultures CAN and DO come together for a common purpose. That differences are briefly transcended when North Koreans and South Koreans walk under the same flag, or when a woman from Saudi Arabia momentarily has the same rights as the women from Western countries. That refugees—who will walk together under the Olympic flag this year—can briefly feel that they are “at home.”

Unfortunately, they have also taught me about corruption, economic and environmental waste, and deception—but I truly believe that the positives greatly outweigh the negatives. (Oh, and let’s not get started on potential public health crises…)

So, even with the bad, the Olympics make me happy. They give me a glimpse of an idealistic world, and I think we all could use a little idealism right now.

Why this idealist loves the #olympics... #KeepItRio Share on X

[linking up for thinking out loud]

So tell me…

  • What is your favorite Olympic sport?
  • Do you consider yourself to be an idealist?

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. I love what the Olympics stands for, and the meaning and feeling behind it. I REALLY hope that Rio can get its act together. In a world like the one that we are living in now, we need a story like the Magnificent Seven (and sans doping, etc) to bring us up!

    2. I definitely love beach volleyball, swimming and gymnastics the best. This year I’ll definitely be watching the running though, I’m so into it watching the whole sponsors debacle. I can’t wait till tomorrow either. Our country needs to unite behind something

    3. I’ve always loved gymnastics even as a little girl. I was so pleased my daughter also took an interest in it also. We have wonderful memories from our trip to the Olympic s in 1992. I’ll treasure those memories forever…

    4. SO cool you met Dominque Dawes!! She is amazing. Fav olympic sport is gymnastics! Biased because I was a gymnast for 8 years.. lol. Can’t wait to watch the games!

      • Yeah, we former gymnasts are biased. I still watch it like I am a little girl wanting to do the same thing. Um, nope. My 32-year old self has the flexibility of the tin man, haha.

    5. Ah – glad I’m not the only one psyched for the Olympics! We are having a party for the Opening Ceremony 🙂 My favorite events are gymnastics, track/field, and swimming.

    8. I love the Olympics too. My favourite is watching the gymnastics because I honestly can’t believe that humans can do the things that gymnasts do.

      • Haha, seriously, though. Every year it gets more difficult and I’m just in awe when I watch them flip, especially the men on the high bar. They’re such freaks! 😉

    10. As a former gymnast myself, I also love the gymnastic! The diving is really fun to watch too.
      My Dad was reflecting on how beautiful the countryside of Rio is for the bicyclist who competed today. I loved hearing their national anthem last night too. So lovely. It’s amazing how it brings the world together!