Olympic Dreams

by Fenella Basilio

As an athlete, I often wondered what it would be like to stand on the podium, amidst a cheering crowd, medal around my neck, listening to my national anthem. I used to – well, I still do sometimes – dream about competing in the Olympics all the time.

Just once, I’d like to experience what those athletes were feeling. You can see it in their eyes. All the training, the hard work, the blood, the sweat, the tears…it’s all encapsulated in those few moments after they cross the finish, touch the wall, or see the scoreboard after the final whistle blows. I always dreamt of that. I think every athlete does.

I wish I could run as fast as Allyson Felix or Jeremy Wariner, swim like Michael Phelps or Amanda Beard, tumble like Carly Patterson, or kick a ball like Mia Hamm.

I want to know what it feels like to walk into a stadium, with a crowd cheering, the lights, centre stage, for a few seconds of glory.

It’s not the glory I’m after, really. Of course, that’s a part of it. Who wouldn’t enjoy a little bit of glory? What it’s really about is what you see in the faces of every single athlete that stands up on that podium during the medal ceremony: Pride.

Pride that you weren’t just good, you were great. Pride at the hard work you put yourself through to accomplish this. Pride at representing your country.

Hm. Maybe I should quit smoking.

But forget about me and my fruitless dreaming. Let’s talk about these athletes. They’re amazing. Did you see those 4 by 400 relays? The US kicked ass, man. They were practically flying. What about Paul Hamm’s gymnastics comeback? Granted, they want him to give his medal back, which is ridiculous and about a week and half too late, considering all he did was do his best. But that’s another article.

Check out Michael Phelps’ gold medal collection. He won seven medals in a matter of days. How is it possible for someone to swim seven races, plus qualifying races, in a matter of days? Is he human?

It’s not just American athletes. Morocco ’s Hicham El Guerrouj cemented his place in the history books by winning the 1500 and the 5000 meters. I was in New Zealand when the Evers-Swindell twins won the gold medal in rowing. Do you know how much that win meant for that tiny nation of 4 million? And Iraq ’s soccer team! They came out of nowhere to make it to the bronze medal game. Or how about Israel ’s only gold medal? A country that lives in fear and is ravaged by random bombings everyday had something to cheer about.

More than anything, Olympic athletes provide inspiration, hope and happiness to their country, which makes them all the more special.

All right. So I can’t be an Olympic athlete. But thanks to those athletes in Athens , I can live vicariously through them. And so can the millions of other sports fans out there.

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