THE SPIRIT OF THE GAMES
I’ve been totally hooked on the Olympics. I love sports of any kind, to have so much, for so long has been wonderful. I’ve learnt the inner details about the more obscure disciplines and marvelled at the capability of the human form.
What tremendous success Team GB achieved right across the board. It’s fair to say that the lottery money has made a huge difference, but I was so pleased to hear in many post-event interviews how the power of the mind can really make the difference between success and failure. How really, truly believing you can succeed does work. If you want something enough, how can it become your reality, even if it takes years and years?
For me, the medals are amazing, but the commitment, dedication, sacrifice and sheer hard work of the athletes, coaches, family and friends is to be applauded, whether you display a medal around your neck or not. All the training is timed to perfection, diets are finely tuned, sleep is maximised, and routines are rigid. What can be controlled is controlled. However, as we know, things happen. Mo Farah fell, but his will to win was so strong that he got up and still achieved gold.
The most poignant moment for me was when the two girls in the 5000m both fell, all the years of training, gone in one split second. They didn’t know each other, but a connection stronger than words emerged, the most beautiful part of the human spirit took over, and their will to win dissipated. They carefully, in turn, encouraged each other to get back to their feet and continue the race. Now that’s what I call the spirit of the games. I believe in that moment, Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D’Agostino, displayed the true essence of life, the unseen connection between all humans, a pure, natural response to offer love, help and support and guess what, when you offer that… You receive it back. Both girls, although finishing last, were awarded a straight pass through to the final. Abbey couldn’t compete due to her injured knee, but surely both girls had already won.
With love,
Glynnis x